Blow the Man Down facts for kids

Blow the Man Down is a well-known English sea shanty. Sea shanties were special work songs sung by sailors on large sailing ships. These songs helped sailors work together. They also made long, hard tasks feel a bit easier. This shanty is listed as number 2624 in the Roud Folk Song Index.

The phrase "Blow the man down" likely has a few meanings. One idea is that it refers to a strong, sudden wind. This wind could hit a ship's sails and make the ship lean over sharply. This leaning could even make the ship partially capsize, or "blow the man-o'-war down" into the water. Another meaning comes from the tough life on board ships. Sailors were sometimes "blown down," or knocked onto the deck. This could happen if a ship's officer hit them for not following orders.

How the Song Works

Like many sea shanties, "Blow the Man Down" was sung in a special way. It used a "call and response" style. One sailor, called the soloist, would sing a line. Then, the rest of the crew would sing the chorus together. This helped them keep time while working.

The song could be sung for a long time. Sailors would often make up new verses on the spot. They also used verses from other shanties. The basic structure always stayed the same:

Soloist sings the first part of a verse
Refrain: "Way hey blow the man down"
Soloist sings the second part of the verse
Refrain: "Give me some time to blow the man down!"

Sailors in the 1800s sang many different verses. These verses often told stories about their lives. They sang about meeting people in port. They also sang about the hard work and tough captains.

Stories from the Song

Many verses in "Blow the Man Down" talk about Liverpool, England. This city was a very busy port. Sailors often visited Paradise Street there. This street was famous for sailors whose ships had docked.

Some verses mention "Black Ballers." These were fast ships from the American Black Ball Line. They sailed between New York and Liverpool. These ships were very popular with sailors. This was because they made the journey quickly. Sailors got paid sooner than on other ships.

Life on these ships could be very hard. Sailors were often treated roughly. Being "blown down" could mean being knocked to the deck. This happened if they were seen doing something wrong.

However, "Blow the Man Down" was not just sung in Liverpool. Versions were also sung in other places. For example, sailors from England's North-East coast sang about streets in their own towns. The phrase "blown down" might also mean something heavy. It could refer to a difficult task like raising a ship's yard. This fits with other versions that say "give me the strength" instead of "give me the time."

Another Way to Sing It

Felix Riesenberg was a sailor in the late 1800s. He wrote about earlier sailors singing simpler versions of the song. These versions were more about the work itself. They were not always about the Black Ball Line.

For example, sailors would sing this shanty while raising the topsail. This was done to get the ship ready to sail. One sailor, Jimmie, would lead the song:

Jimmie—Now rouse her right up boys for Liverpool town.
Sailors—Go way, way, blow the man down.
Jimmie—We'll blow the man up and blow the man down.
Sailors—Oh, give us some time to blow the man down.

This shows how the song helped sailors work together. It was a way to make tough jobs easier. It also helped them keep a steady rhythm.