Sea Shanties - Charles Dickens - Capstans - Portsmouth

Angela Curtis
Aug 5, 2020
2 min read

Updated: Oct 30, 2020

Randy Dandy-Oh

This is a sea shanty typically used on square-rigged sails when working the pump or raising the anchor with the capstan.

To hear the song the sailors sang when the tugboat released them out from Portsmouth, continue below.

The doctor wrote about the tugboat and how they were left on their own hook. This means they had to raise the sails and head out under the power of just the wind. The capstan is the wheel instrument in the middle of the deck. As seen below, poles were inserted into it when needed to create a wheel. The crew took a pole each and turned the capstan.

Capstan

Photo:Woodwork Essence.com

Portsmouth

Photo: https://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/

Charles Dickens Birth Place - Portsmouth

Photo: https://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/

Portsmouth was the birthplace of Charles Dickens. It was home to Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling during their lifetimes also. These literary greats are celebrated with frequent events at museums throughout the city.

Portsmouth Museum

Photo: https://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/

You can take a walk through Portsmouth’s heritage, discover the world of Sherlock Holmes, trace the history of Portsmouth FC and see fascinating works of art and a whole load more.

Entry to Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery is free.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Photo: https://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/

Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard is the perfect place to go to see UK's premier destination for Naval History. Inside there are 11 attractions including the HMS Warrior 1860, Lord Nelson's flagship HMS Victory and the National Museum of the Royal Navy. You can also take harbour tour excursions on waterbuses to Gosport to see the Royal Navy Submarine Museum and Explosion Museum.

Southsea Castle

Photo: https://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/

The Southsea Castle was one of King Henry VIII's most famous fortifications. He is said to have watched the sinking of his flagship vessel, the Mary Rose from the castle's vantage point.

The ship remained on the seabed for 437 years, until it was raised and put through an intensive conservation program. Now, you can see the ship at its very own museum, where visitors have to go through an airlock to breathe the same air.

Enough on Portsmouth, let's listen to some music. . .

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Best Sea Shanties

Starting with Randy-Dandy-O, the song they sang on the Ashmore when they first set sail,

click on the picture. Lyrics are below.

Video:SeeminglyInCoherent

Randy Dandy-Oh Lyrics

Now we are ready to head for the Horn

Weigh, hey, roll an’ go!

Our boots an’ our clothes boys are all in the pawn