Lonnie Donegan - Sammy's Bar

with lyrics.

[toni]

I've been the proud owner of many of Lonnie's songs. I can even remember the old 78s my dad owned.

[nigelbullock]

Lonnie was the very first Guy I heard singing folk material, although I didn't realise it at the time he has shaped my entire musical life. I always felt he was rather looked down on by the Folk establishment because of the Skiffle thing, but this track proves what a great talent he was. Gone but never forgotten, thanks Lonnie.

[ratherknotty]

i THINK THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST VERSION OF THIS LOVELY SONG. MANY THANKS

[ianpage]

I love this song and sing it myself, but this is the first time I have heard the Lonnie Donegan version. It's great.

The chorus is in fact "Call away the daighsoe". No hauling was ever done on a daighsoe; it is simply a Maltese water taxi, rather like a Venetian gondola.

The singer is asking his mates to take the last tender (this is the last boat which is about to leave) from shore back to their (Royal Navy) ship, but to leave him ashore on his own. There he will drown more of his sorrows, and take a water taxi back to his ship later, even though he would likely be put on a charge for doing so.

I got this explanation directly from Cyril Tawney himself.

[bernardballbag]

This is wonderful, never heard it before, Lonnie is such an under-rated artist.

[TonyTheDriver]

I'm sure most folk who are watching this realise it is a Cyril Tawney song covered by Lonnie. However, what a FANTASTIC version of what could sometimes be a maudlin song. 
I grew up listening to Lonnie Donegan during the skiffle era and joined the Royal Navy in 1966 at about the time Cyril Tawney was leaving, although he had left an indelible mark with 'Sally, free And Easy'.
Anyway, I've not long retired from the 'Rat-Race' and have formed a Old Folk Duo called "Two Bist We" (You have to be a Bristolian to understand it). We're still building our repertoire and this is going into it!
Anyone in the Bristol (UK) (otherwise known as BR1stOL) area who would like to join us please get in touch. TVM
Tony
AKA Tony The Driver
AKA The Glastonbury Ferryman

[carlschecter]

We sang this song at Camp Killooleet, run by the late John Seeger (Pete’s younger brother). We thought it was a ses chanty, having no idea it was about the submariners’ life in Malta circa 1950s. As for the refrain we sang it as if nonsense words. “Haul away the dyso” used by seafarers in their work. Despite all that, there remains something hauntingly beautiful about the melody and incantatory about the repeated chorus. It is a little masterpiece at risk of being lost, and I thank whoever posted this version. I do wonder whether for sometime Pete Seeger or any other folk greats sang it, but probably only his granddaughter Kate would know.

[robbojax]

Lonnie was better than the Dustman type songs and this proves it. I got to see him live shortly before he passed. A great night

[TonyTheDriver]

This song was written (as I'm sure you all know) by the late Cyril Tawney who was leaving the Royal Navy about the same time as I was joining. We lower-deckers all loved his Sally Free And Easy and I didn't learn this song until the latter stages of my not very illustrious career.
That a giant of music such as Lonnie Donegan should record a version of it is tribute to the quality of Cyril's writing. But this is a truly magnificent recording in its own right and an absolutely wonderful version.

[blinddrunkal]

Never heard Lonnie's version of this Cyril Tawny song before! Wonderful!

[derabes]

Absolutely love this version. For a completely different take on it try the Al O Donnell's fabulous version. Well done again Lonnie.

[bobcummings]

Thank you for putting this up So heart touching Tears in my eys now.

[crcHypnodoc]

I'd never have associate Lonnie with this song, but he does a fine job on it. My fav version (apart from my own) is Flipping The Whale, on here

[gjulspep]

What a beautiful, unique voice - none like it.

[bobwhite]

thought aint no more cane was his most moving song til i heard this, amazing.saw him at Tunbridge wells{!] shortly before he did no one can touch him

[bernardballbag]

Really listen to every thing....pure talent

[Mickx]

This is a great version of this song by Lonnie, It is available on LONNIE LIVE on Upbeat Records
URCD 226. This contains some other unreleased tracks by Lonnie.

[zonkozonko]

Heard this song lots of times and when I sing it to myself its Dice'o With the marvels of the "Net" I now no its daighsoe and it means a small boat to take people to a bigger boat?

[Mickx]

@TonyTheDriver100
Thanks for the comments . yes he was one of a kind and sorely missed

[tenorlord]

Great version! Always loved this song. But...what's a daighsoe? ( For some reason, I think it's a boat used around Malta)