They came to the attention of Father Reinard Beaver who encouraged them to come with him to New York the following summer when he went to attend Army Chaplain school. They did a few spontaneous performances along the way to supplement the approx. $300 they had set out with between them.
By the time they were supposed to head back to Gonzaga, the trio had an audition for Arthur Godfrey and were getting ready to record an album (The Chad Mitchell Trio Arrives).
The following summer Mike Pugh decided he wanted to leave the group. After auditioning many people, they decided on Joe Frazier as Pugh's replacement. By Thanksgiving they were booked on The Pat Boone Show. Soon they were performing at Carnegie Hall with Harry Belafonte, Miriam Makeba and Odetta.
Chad left to pursue a solo career in 1965 and was replaced by John Denver and the group was redubbed The Mitchell Trio (no "Chad"). When Joe Frazier left, he was replaced by David Boise. In 1968, the last original member Mike Kobluk left the group. His replacement was Michael Johnson and due to the terms of the contract, the "Mitchell" name had to go. The new group was called simply Denver, Boise and Johnson.
Whup Jamboree
Chad Mitchell Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dm F C
The captain he looks out ahead
Dm C
with a hand on the wheel and the heavin' of the lead.
Dm F C
The bosun roars to wake the dead:
"Come and get your oats me son."
[Refrain: "Whup" is shouted.]
Dm F C
Whup, jamboree, whup jamboree.
Big round fat and come up behind.
Jamboree, whup jamboree.
Come and get your oats me son.
Oh, now we're past the harbor lights
and the shore will soon be heavin' into sight.
We'll soon be abreast of the Isle of Wight.
Come and get your oats me son.
(Refrain)
Oh, when we get to the Blackwall docks.
Them pretty young girls come down in flocks.
With short-legged drawers and long-tailed frocks,
Then come and get your oats me son.
(Refrain)
The Chad Mitchell Trio's "Whup Jamboree" is a catchy, upbeat shanty about life on a ship. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the daily routine on board - the captain at the helm, the bosun rousing the crew, and the anticipation of reaching the next port. The refrain "whup jamboree" is a call to action, urging the crew to come together and work as a team.
One interesting aspect of the song is its use of nautical terminology. The "heavin' of the lead" refers to measuring the depth of the water with a lead weight. The "Isle of Wight" is an island off the coast of England that served as a navigational landmark for sailors. The Blackwall docks, mentioned later in the song, were a bustling hub of maritime activity in London during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Another notable feature of "Whup Jamboree" is its infectious energy. The melody and rhythm are designed to get people singing and clapping along. It's easy to imagine a group of sailors gathered below deck, sharing a drink and belting out the chorus together. Despite the hardships of life on a ship, there's a sense of camaraderie and joy in this song.
Line by Line Meaning
The captain he looks out ahead
The person in charge is looking forward
with a hand on the wheel and the heavin' of the lead.
He is holding the wheel and using a weight to measure the depth
The bosun roars to wake the dead:
The officer in charge shouts to the crew
"Come and get your oats me son."
To refill your energy, you need to come and grab some food
Whup, jamboree, whup jamboree.
An exclamation to celebrate
Big round fat and come up behind.
Lots of good things are coming up
Jamboree, whup jamboree.
An exclamation to celebrate
Come and get your oats me son.
To refill your energy, you need to come and grab some food
Oh, now we're past the harbor lights
We have left the shore behind
and the shore will soon be heavin' into sight.
The shore will soon become visible again
We'll soon be abreast of the Isle of Wight.
We will soon be next to the Isle of Wight
Come and get your oats me son.
To refill your energy, you need to come and grab some food
Oh, when we get to the Blackwall docks.
When we reach the Blackwall docks
Them pretty young girls come down in flocks.
Lots of beautiful girls come to greet us
With short-legged drawers and long-tailed frocks,
They are wearing short pants and long dresses
Then come and get your oats me son.
To refill your energy, you need to come and grab some food
Whup, jamboree, whup jamboree.
An exclamation to celebrate
Big round fat and come up behind.
Lots of good things are coming up
Jamboree, whup jamboree.
An exclamation to celebrate
Come and get your oats me son.
To refill your energy, you need to come and grab some food
Contributed by Hudson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.