born. About this shanty, folk song collector and singer A.L. Lloyd writes:
Tom left home on a ship bound for the nitrate port of Ilo, Peru. The Liverpool
judies had treated him roughly, while the Valparaiso girls were kind, as it
looked as if Tom wasn't going to return. His defection seemed to strike a
mood of tender sentiment in the teak-tough hearts of seamen, for though
this tops'l halyard shanty has several tunes, they are all of melting nostalgic
character. Perhaps the men on the rope wished they were in Tom's shoes.
The slow tempo suited the crew when the pull was heavy, but it was no
Robert Shaw and Alice Parker’s arrangement capitalizes on the sentimentality
and “melting nostalgic character” of this shanty. Written in the traditional call-and-
Sea Shanties by
The Men of the Robert Shaw Chorale in 1960.
Tommy’s gone and I’ll go too,
Oh, Tommy’s gone and I’ll go too,
Tom’s gone to Hilo.
Tommy fought in Trafalgar,
Oh, Tommy fought in Trafalgar,
Tom’s gone to Hilo.
The old Victory led the way,
The brave old Victory led the way,
Tom’s gone to Hilo.
Tommy’s gone forever more,
Oh, Tommy’s gone forever more,
Tom’s gone to Hilo.
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