New York Girls Explained

New York Girls", also known as "Can't You Dance the Polka," is a traditional sea shanty.^[1] It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 486.^[2] It was collected by W. B. Whall in the 1860s.^[3] It was printed in 1910 in "Ships, Sea Songs and Shanties". An earlier book "Sailors' Songs or Chanties", first edition 1887, by Davis and Tozer contains a version, but does not specify when it was collected.

Lyrics

The lyrics have many variations, but almost all versions contain this chorus, sung after each verse:^[4]

A less common alternate chorus is:^[5]

The lyrics are often a cautionary tale of a sailor being tricked by a pretty girl who spends all of his money and in some cases robs him. This is summed up in these verses found in some versions:^[6]

Recordings

The song has been recorded by many artists:

• Bob Roberts, in a BBC Archive recording by Peter Douglas Kennedy (1950s)
• Alan Mills, Songs of the Sea (1957)
• The Kingston Trio, ...from the Hungry i (1959)
• Ian Campbell Folk Group, New Impressions (1967)
• Steeleye Span with Peter Sellers, Commoners Crown (1975)
• Gordon Jones and Bob Thomas, Children in Need (1987)
• Oysterband, Ride (1989)
• Cyril Tawney, Sailor's Delight (1990)
• 97th Regimental String Band, Brass Mounted Army: Civil war Era Songs, Vol. VII (1999)
• Roberts and Barrand, Across the Western Ocean (2000)
• Gaelic Storm, Tree (2001).
• Finbar Furey, (2004)
• Steve Tilston, Of Many Hands (2005)
• Bellowhead, Hedonism (2010)

In popular culture

• The song is featured in the 2002 film Gangs of New York.
• The song is featured in the 2014 video game Assassin's Creed Rogue.
• The song is featured in the 2018 film Fisherman's Friends.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Can't You Dance the Polka (New York Girls) . Engle . David G. . Waltz . Robert B. . 2016 . Fresno State . California State University . August 13, 2016 .
2. Web site: New York Girls / Can't You Dance the Polka . Zierke . Reinhard . November 7, 2015 . Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music . mainlynorfolk.info . August 13, 2016 .
3. Web site: Vaughan Williams . Ralph . W.B. Whall . Vaughan Williams Memorial Library . J Brown and Son . 24 January 2023.
4. Web site: New York Girls (Version 2) . . 2016 . Contemplator . contemplator.com . August 13, 2016 .
5. Web site: New York Girls (Version 1) . . 2016 . Contemplator . contemplator.com . August 13, 2016 .
6. Web site: Oh, You New York Girls . Anitra . 2016 . Anitra's Web . anitra.net . August 13, 2016 .