| "Ship Ahoy! (All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor)" | |
|---|---|
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| Song by Hetty King | |
| Published | 1908 |
| Songwriter(s) | Bennett Scott, Arthur J. Mills (and possibly Fred Godfrey) |
"Ship Ahoy! (All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor)" is an English music hall song from 1908, written by Bennett Scott and A. J. Mills of the Star music publishing company in London. Some sources credit Scott alone; others additionally credit their colleague Fred Godfrey.[1]
The song was first performed by male impersonator Hetty King. She later said that she first sang it at the Liverpool Empire in 1908, but it did not become successful until 1909, when it became popular and, towards the end of the year, was described as the greatest pantomime hit for four years.[2] The song stayed in King's repertoire for the rest of her life, and has remained popular.[3] It was first recorded in 1910, by Ella Retford.[4][5]
The words of the chorus are:[6]
- All the nice girls love a sailor
- All the nice girls love a tar
- For there's something about a sailor
- Well, you know what sailors are
- Bright and breezy, free and easy
- He's the ladies' pride and joy
- Falls in love with Kate and Jane
- Then he's off to sea again
- Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!
- ^ "Ship Ahoy! (All The Nice Girls Love A Sailor)", Fred Godfrey Songs. Retrieved 16 July 2020
- ^ Richard Anthony Baker, British Music Hall: an illustrated history, Pen & Sword, 2014, ISBN 978-1-78383-118-0, p.173
- ^ Richard Anthony Baker, British Music Hall: an illustrated history, pp.154-155
- ^ Ella Retford (1886-1962), Fred Godfrey Songs. Retrieved 16 July 2020
- ^ Jumbo Records 503. Retrieved 17 July 2020
- ^ "Ship Ahoy! (All The Nice Girls Love a Sailor)", Monologues.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2020