Bullgine

[Shantyman]

Ive heard two different "styles" to the song. The most common being more of a sea chanty and another version accompanied by banjo. The banjo version was a more plucky Appalachian folk stile as apposed to a wild Dr. Ralph Stanley style. I cant find a date reference.

The jest of my question. Is it a period song, anyone got $.02 ?

Bullgine being a slang term for a locomotive or ship engine and the name Eliza Lee has a early-mid 1800's feel to it so i think so.

"Whey hey in a running car,
A-hey A-ho are you most done?
With Eliza Lee upon my knee,
Clear away the track and let the bullgine run."

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Bullgine

The term bullgine is used in negro minstrely in the era.

Chanty of the packet ship Margaret Evans (1846)

The Margaret Evans was a London packet ship (sailing between New York and London on a regular schedule). She was 899 tons, built 1846 in New York by Westervelt & MacKay and owned by E.E. Morgan. She continued sailing into the 1860s. The ship is celebrated in the chanty "Clear the track", also called "Clear the track, let the bullgine run" or simply "Margaret Evans"

"O the smartest clipper you can find

A ho way ho are you 'most done

Is the Margeret Evans of the Blue Cross Line

So clear the track let the bullgine run


To me hey rig-a-jig in a low-backed car

A ho way ho are you 'most done

With Liza Lee all on my knee

So clear the track let the bullgine run


O the Margeret Evans of the Blue Cross Line

A ho way ho are you 'most done

She's never a day behind her time

So clear the track let the bullgine run


O we're outward bound for New York Town

A ho way ho are you 'most done

Them bowery gals we'll waltz around

So clear the track let the bullgine run


When we've stowed our freight at the West Street Pier

A ho way ho, are you 'most done

It's home to Liverpool then we'll steer

So clear the track let the bullgine run


O them bowery gals will give us fun

A ho way ho, are you 'most done

Chatham Street dives is home from home

So clear the track let the bullgine run


When we all get back to Liverpool town

A ho way ho are you 'most done

I'll stand ye whiskies all around

So clear the track let the bullgine run


O heave a pawl O bear a hand

A ho way ho are you 'most done

Just one more pull and make her stand

So clear the track let the bullgine run


O Liza Lee will you be mine

A ho way ho are you 'most done

I'll dress you up in silk so fine

So clear the track let the bullgine run


To me hey rig-a-jig in a low-backed car

A ho way ho are you 'most done

With Liza Lee all on my knee

So clear the track let the bullgine run


And when I'm home again from sea,

A -ho, way-ho, are you 'most done

Oh Liza, you shall marry me

So clear the track let the bullgine run


To me hey rig-a-jig in a low-backed car

A -ho, way-ho, are you 'most done

With Liza Lee all on my knee

So clear the track let the bullgine run


I'll stay with you upon the shore

A -ho, way-ho, are you 'most done

And back to sea will go no more

So clear the track let the bullgine run


To me hey rig-a-jig in a low-backed car

A-ho, way-ho, are you 'most done

With Liza Lee all on my knee

So clear the track let the bullgine run".

CJ Rideout
Tampa, FLorida

[BrianHicks]

Re: Bullgine

MARGOT EVANS (LET THE BULLGINE RUN)

Oh the smartest clipper you can find,
Oh hey, oh ho, are you 'most done?
Is the Margot Evans of the Blue Cross line,
So clear the track, let the bullgine run!

cho: To me hey rig-a-jig in a low black car,
Oh hey, oh ho, are you 'most done,
With Liza Lee all on my knee,
So clear the track, let the bullgine run.

O the Margot Evans of the Blue Cross line,
Oh hey, oh ho, are you 'most done?
She's never a day behind her time.
So clear the track, let the bullgine run!

Oh, when I come home across the sea,
Oh hey, oh ho, are you 'most done?
It's Liza, will you marry me?
So clear the track, let the bullgine run!

As printed in Alan Lomax's "The Folk Songs of North America." the song clearly dates from the days of the packet ships
(early nineteenth century), the first vessels to guarantee to make a crossing of the Atlantic in a fixed amount of time. (as their name denotes...they carried packets of mail). It was in 1840 that the Packet Ships began to be powered with steam engines.

[Silas]

Bulgine

In Gumbo Chaff's Complete Ethiopian Glee Book (1849), there are three songs which specifically use the word, bulgine. The songs are : Fine Old Color'd Gemman (Gentleman), Picayune Butler, and Who Dat Knockin' at de Door?

This book was recently scanned and uploaded to the net. It's a gold mine of "popular negro melodies." Here's the link : http://www.archive.org/details/ethiopiangleeboo00howe