Digital Tradition Mirror

This notation is pretty simple; dark circles mean covered holes; empty circles mean uncovered holes; a '+' below means to blow harder to get the upper octave; a '#' below means this note is too low for the whistle chosen and you'll have to fake it :) The author of this program always plays accidentals by closing holes, so you'll never see half-covered holes.

When I was starting, I found notation like this to be very helpful, and I know plenty of people who have trouble reading music who find this notation easier. Good luck!

Blow the Man Down (2)

(D whistle)

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
(Choose a whistle key: A B C D E F G Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb A# B# C# D# E# F# G#)
Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Blow the Man Down (2)

I'm a blue water sailor just back from Hong Kong
     Way, hey, blow the man down
If you give me some whiskey I'll sing you a song
     Give us some time to blow the man down

As I was a-walkin' down Paradise Street
A dashing young damsel I chanced for to meet

She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow
So I took in all sail and cried, "Way enough now."

I hailed her in English and I hailed her all round
I hauled up alongside and asked where she was bound

She said to me, "Sir, will you stand a treat?"
"Delighted," says I, "For a charmer so sweet."

So I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow
And yard-arm to yard-arm away we did go

It was up in her quarters she piped me aboard
And there on her bed I cut loose with my sword

Ah, but just as my cutter was forging ahead
She shouted, "My husband!" and jumped out of bed

He was seven feet tall, had a chest like a horse
A straight for my jawbone he plotted his course

He loosened my rigging, he kicked in my stays
I flew down the stairs like a ship on the ways

I chanced on a packet that happened on by
And when I awoke I was bound for Shanghai

So come all you young laddies that follow the sea
Don't never take heed of what pretty girls say.

SOURCE: Bob Pfeffer
SOURCE'S SOURCE: Garrett Warner (also recorded Oscar Brand)
RPf

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!