This particular version © 1992 Scott Hendricks
Also in WAV format
Notes: (taken from Shanties of the Seven Seas)
This is a typical example of the stanp-'n'-go song or walkaway or runaway shanty,
and was the only type of work-song allowed in the King's Navee. It was popular in ships
with big crews when at halyards, and in later days when bigger ships were manned with
smaller crews, it was used at braces when 'going about' or to hand aloft a light sail such
as a stays'l.
Occasionally it was sung in unison, verses and
choruses. Normally only two or three verses were used, but there were many more,
some of them obscene and even sacrilegious.
It is a very old shanty, the air being from a
traditional Irish dance, as well as a march tune. The word 'early' was
always pronounced 'eal-eye'. Sailormen liked this sound, as can be seen from his
pronunciation of 'California' in Sacramento - 'Californ-eye-O'.
Normally it started with the chorus, and it was
usual to repeat the words of the first line three times, the "Way hay, being nothing
more than a savage yell hard to put in print. Some collectors give 'Hooray' or
"Way aye yah'.
What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
Earl-eye in the morning?Way-hey and up she rises,
Way-hey and up she rises,
Way-hey and up she rises,
Earl-eye in the morning...What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
Earl-eye in the morning?Put a lobster in his britches
Put a lobster in his britches
Put a lobster in his britches
Earl-eye in the morningWay-hey and he ain't risin'
Way-hey and he ain't risin'
Way-hey and he ain't risin'
Earl-eye in the morninWhat do ya do with a drunken sailor?
What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
Earl-eye in the mornin?Shave his balls with a rusty razor
Shave his balls with a rusty razor
Shave his balls with a rusty razor
Earl-eye in the mornin...What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
What do ya do with a drunken sailor?
Earl-eye in the mornin?Kick him in the belly 'til he pukes his guts out
Kick him in the belly 'til he pukes his guts out
Kick him in the belly 'til he pukes his guts out
Earl-eye in the mornin...Then catch it in a bucket and make him drink it
Then catch it in a bucket and make him drink it
Then catch it in a bucket and make him drink it
Earl-eye in the morninWay hey and up she rises
Way hey and up she rises
Way hey and up she rises
Earl-eye in the morning...What do ya do with a drunken pub wench?
What do ya do with a drunken pub wench?
What do ya do with a drunken pub wench?
Earl-eye in the morning?Throw her in bed with a drunken minstrel
Throw her in bed with a drunken minstrel
Throw her in bed with a drunken minstrel
Earl-eye in the morning...Way hey and up she rises
Way hey and up she rises
Way hey and up she rises
Earl-eye in the morning... (twice)And that's what you do with a drunken sailor That's what you do with a drunken sailor That's what you do with a drunken sailor Earl-eye in the morning....