New York Girls
New York Girls", also known as "Can't You Dance the Polka," is a traditional sea shanty.[1] It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 486.[2] It was collected by W. B. Whall in the 1860s.[3] It was printed in 1910 in "Ships, Sea Songs and Shanties". An earlier book "Sailors' Songs or Chanties", first edition 1887, by Davis and Tozer contains a version, but does not specify when it was collected.
Lyrics
The lyrics have many variations, but almost all versions contain this chorus, sung after each verse:[4]
And away, you Santee
My dear Annie
Oh, you New York girls
Can't you dance the polka?
A less common alternate chorus is:[5]
And away, you Johnny
My dear honey
Oh, you New York girls
You love us for our money
The lyrics are often a cautionary tale of a sailor being tricked by a pretty girl who spends all of his money and in some cases robs him. This is summed up in these verses found in some versions:[6]
So come all you bully sailormen, take warning when ashore
Or else you'll meet some charming girl who's nothing but a whore
Your hard-earned cash will disappear, your rig and boots as well
For Yankee girls are tougher than the other side of Hell
Recordings
The song has been recorded by many artists:[2]
- Bob Roberts, in a BBC Archive recording by Peter Douglas Kennedy (1950s)
- Alan Mills, Songs of the Sea (1957)
- The Kingston Trio, ...from the Hungry i (1959)
- Ian Campbell Folk Group, New Impressions (1967)
- Steeleye Span with Peter Sellers, Commoners Crown (1975)
- Gordon Jones and Bob Thomas, Children in Need (1987)
- Oysterband, Ride (1989)
- Cyril Tawney, Sailor's Delight (1990)
- 97th Regimental String Band, Brass Mounted Army: Civil war Era Songs, Vol. VII (1999)
- Roberts and Barrand, Across the Western Ocean (2000)
- Gaelic Storm, Tree (2001).
- Finbar Furey, Gangs of New York: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture (2004)
- Steve Tilston, Of Many Hands (2005)
- Bellowhead, Hedonism (2010)
In popular culture
- The song is featured in the 2002 film Gangs of New York.
- The song is featured in the 2014 video game Assassin's Creed Rogue.
- The song is featured in the 2018 film Fisherman's Friends.
References
- ^ Engle, David G.; Waltz, Robert B. (2016). "Can't You Dance the Polka (New York Girls)". Fresno State. California State University. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- ^ a b Zierke, Reinhard (November 7, 2015). "New York Girls / Can't You Dance the Polka". Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music. mainlynorfolk.info. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- ^ Vaughan Williams, Ralph. "W.B. Whall". Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. J Brown and Son. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "New York Girls (Version 2)". Contemplator. contemplator.com. 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- ^ "New York Girls (Version 1)". Contemplator. contemplator.com. 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- ^ Anitra (2016). "Oh, You New York Girls". Anitra's Web. anitra.net. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
