Donkey Riding

Donkey Riding by umikz

イングランド民謡の曲集に収録されてますが、いきなりQuebecが出てくることからも推察されるように、これはカナダ・北米からスコットランド・イングランドにかけて歌われた曲・・・船乗りの歌だそうです。

え、Donkey（ロバ）と海に、いったい何の関係が・・・？

と思いきや、Donkeyはエンジンの一種の「Steam Donkey」を指してる説が有力だとか。

下の歌詞を見ても、ケベック（カナダ）からホーン岬（チリ）、カーディフ湾（英ウェールズ）、トンブクトゥ（アフリカ（マリ））、・・・と、たしかに大航海している気分になりますね。

Lyrics:

Were you ever in Quebec
Stowin’ timber on the deck?
Where ye’d break yer bleedin’ neck
Riding on a donkey!

chorus:
Way O and away we go
Donkey riding, donkey riding
Way O and away we go
Riding on a donkey.

Were you ever off the Horn
Where it’s always fine and warm?
Where’s there’s a lion and a unicorn
Riding on a donkey.

Were you ever in Cardiff Bay
Where the folks all shout, “Hooray!”?
“Here comes Johnny with his six months pay
Riding on a donkey.”

Were you ever in Timbucktoo
Where the gals are black and blue?
And they wriggle their arses, too
Riding on a donkey.

Were you ever in Vallipo
Where the gals put on a show?
Wriggle their arse with a roll and go
Riding on a donkey.

Wuz ye ever down Mobile Bay
Screwin’ cotton all the day?,
A dollar a day is a white man’s pay.
Ridin’ on a donkey.

Wuz ye ever in Canton
Where the men wear pigtails long,
And the gals play hong-ki-kong?
Ridin’ on a donkey.

Wuz ye ever in Mirramashee
Where ye tie up to a tree,
An’ the skeeters do bite we?
Ridin’ on a donkey

Wuz ye ever on the Broomielaw
Where the Yanks are all the go,
An’ the boys dance heel an’ toe?
Ridin’ on a donkey.

（引用元：worksongs.org）