Jerry has been featured in the San Francisco National Maritime Historic Park’s sea music concert series, Mystic Seaport Museum’s annual Sea Music Festival, South Street Seaport in New York, and many others. His recording The Ballad of Harbo and Samuelsen showcases old and new songs. He can also can be heard on the Mystic Seaport CD American Sea Chanteys, and on Contentment by Rick Spencer. His latest release, Roast Beef of Old England, is a collection of traditional songs from the man-of-war days of the British Navy, and is a companion to the seafaring novels of Patrick O’Brian.
Ben Backstay
Jerry Bryant and Starboard Mess Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A very merry boy,
For no one half so more merrily
Could pipe all hands ahoy.
And when unto his summons
We did not well attend,
No lad than he more merrily
Could handle a rope′s end
Could handle a rope′s end
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de radlle day
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de radlle day
While sailing once our Captain
Who was a jolly dog
Served out to all our company
A double whack of grog
Ben backstay he got tipsy
All to his hearts content
And he being half seas over
Right overboard he went
Right overboard he went
Right overboard he went
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de radlle day
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de raddle day
A shark was on the starboard bow
And Sharks no man can stand
For they do grapple everything
Just like your sharks on land
We heaved Ben out some tackling
To give his life some hope
But as the shark bit his head off
He couldn't see the rope
He couldn't see the rope
He couldn′t see the rope
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de radlle day
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de raddle day
Without a head his ghost appeared
All on the briny lake
He piped all hands ahoy and cried
Lads warning by me take
By drinking grog I lost me life
And you my fate you meet
So never mix your liquors lads
But always take it neat
But always take it neat
But always take it neat
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de radlle day
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de raddle day
The song "Ben Backstay" by Jerry Bryant and Starboard Mess is a sea shanty that tells the story of a boatswain named Ben Backstay who is known for being a very merry boy and expert at piping all hands ahoy. However, when the crew doesn't respond well to his summons, he becomes even merrier and can handle a rope's end like no one else. During a voyage with the Captain, who is described as a jolly dog, the crew is served a double whack of grog, and Ben Backstay gets tipsy and falls overboard. Unfortunately, a shark on the starboard bow grapples him, and despite trying to save him, the crew cannot prevent the shark from biting his head off.
In the last stanza, Ben Backstay's ghost appears without a head, and he warns the crew never to mix their liquors and always take it neat, as his fate could also be their own. The repetitive chorus "chip cho, cherry cho, fol de riddle ido, chip cho, cherry cho, fol de raddle day" adds to the lighthearted and catchy nature of the song but also serves as a reminder that one should always be wary of drinking too much alcohol, especially when out at sea.
Overall, "Ben Backstay" is a cautionary tale that warns about the dangers of losing control due to excessive drinking, which can, unfortunately, lead to deadly accidents, especially when out at sea.
Line by Line Meaning
Ben Backstay was a boatswain,
Ben Backstay was an officer on a ship.
A very merry boy,
He always had a cheerful disposition.
For no one half so more merrily
No one was as happy as him.
Could pipe all hands ahoy.
He could signal to the crew to assemble.
And when unto his summons
When he called for everyone's attention,
We did not well attend,
Those who didn't listen to him,
No lad than he more merrily
No one was happier than him
Could handle a rope′s end
At disciplining, he was more than capable.
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
A fun and nonsense phrase.
Fol de riddle ido,
A repeating nonsense phrase.
While sailing once our Captain
During our journey, our Captain once
Who was a jolly dog
Who was always happy and friendly.
Served out to all our company
Shared with everybody on our ship
A double whack of grog
A double ration of an alcoholic drink.
Ben backstay he got tipsy
Ben Backstay became drunk.
All to his hearts content
He enjoyed drinking until he was satisfied.
And he being half seas over
Ben was too drunk.
Right overboard he went
Ben fell off the ship.
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
A fun and nonsense phrase.
Fol de riddle ido,
A repeating nonsense phrase.
A shark was on the starboard bow
A shark was swimming right of the ship.
And Sharks no man can stand
Sharks are difficult to fight because of their aggressiveness.
For they do grapple everything
They attack and seize anything in sight.
Just like your sharks on land
They are vicious predators just like land animals.
We heaved Ben out some tackling
We used equipment to retrieve Ben.
To give his life some hope
To try and save Ben's life.
But as the shark bit his head off
Ben was beheaded by the shark.
He couldn't see the rope
His fate was sealed, he couldn't be saved.
Without a head his ghost appeared
Ben was seen as a ghost without his head.
All on the briny lake
On the wide expanse of the sea.
He piped all hands ahoy and cried
He summoned everyone and warned them.
Lads warning by me take
Take heed of my warning.
By drinking grog I lost me life
Drinking too much grog led to Ben's death.
And you my fate you meet
You will suffer the same fate as me.
So never mix your liquors lads
Don't mix different types of alcoholic drinks together.
But always take it neat
Drink alcohol straight without mixing it.
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
A fun and nonsense phrase.
Fol de riddle ido,
A repeating nonsense phrase.
Writer(s): Traditional
Contributed by Lila F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.