SAILOR'S HORNPIPE

Created on 02/03/2010
Latest update on 21/02/2024

Artist: John Philip Sousa
Author: traditional
Label: Victor
Year: 1903

Part of his Jack Tar March. Hornpipe tune first published in the 1790s. Sailors of the Royal Navy introduced this dance as an exercise on board, accompanied by a whistle. Samuel Pepys referred to it in his diary (1660s), Captain Cook encouraged his crew to keep fit on it, Groucho Marx danced the Hornpipe in film Duck Soup, followed by cartoon characters galore: the melody was heard at the beginning of every Popeye cartoon (1933), also in Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore and in Sponge Bob Squarepants's tune.

Covers:

1905:

Sir Henry Wood [as Jack's The Lad, part of his Fantasia On British Sea Songs]

1928:

Frank Luther

1933:

David Guion [part of his Drunken Sailor (see there)]

1936:

Sons Of The Pioneers

1953:

Roy Acuff [in his RC Cola radio show]

1962:

Tornados [as Pop'eye Twist]

1965:

Bill Monroe

1973:

Mike Oldfield [closing Tubular Bells Part II]

1985:

Madness [whistled version in Uncle Sam]

Contact


If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:

Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)

info@originals.be

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