"The Ryans and The Pittmans"[1] is a popular Newfoundland folk song. It tells of the romantic entanglements of a sailor named Bob Pittman, and his desire to sail home to finally marry his "sweet Biddy". The song is also known as "We'll Rant and We'll Roar", after the first line of the chorus; however, this is also the name by which some foreign variants are known.
It is based on a traditional English capstan shanty, "Spanish Ladies", which describes headlands sighted on a sailor's homeward voyage through the English Channel. "Spanish Ladies" has a number of variants: New England whalers sang of "Yankee Whalermen", while their Pacific counterparts sang of Talcuhano Girls. A more landlocked drover's version surfaced in Australia as "Brisbane Ladies".
Verses 2, 8, 9, and 10 of the Newfoundland version are adapted from that of the whalers; the remainder were composed around 1875 by Henry W. LeMessurier. It was printed in Old Songs of Newfoundland (1912) by James Murphy. The places mentioned in the song are outports[2] in and around Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.
The most famous recent version of the song was recorded by Great Big Sea.
Episode 6 of season 2 (2011) of Republic of Doyle is named "The Ryans and the Pittmans".
ChorusWe'll rant and we'll roar like true Newfoundlanders[3] We'll rant and we'll roar on deck and belowUntil we see bottom inside the two sunkers[4] When straight through the Channel to Toslow we'll go.
I'm a son of a sea cook, and a cook in a trader[5] I can dance, I can sing, I can reef[6] the mainboom,[7] I can handle a jigger,[8] and cuts a fine figureWhenever I gets in a boat's standing room.[9]
Chorus
If the voyage is good, this fall I will do itI wants two pounds ten[10] for a ring and the priestA couple of dollars for clean shirts and collarsAnd a handful of coppers to make up a feast.
Chorus
There's plump little Polly, her name is GoldsworthyThere's John Coady's Kitty and Mary TibboThere's Clara from Brule and young Martha FoleyBut the nicest of all is me girl from Toslow.
Chorus
Farewell and adieu to ye girls of ValenFarewell and adieu to ye girls in the CoveI'm bound to the westward, to the wall with the hole in[11] I'll take her from Toslow the wide world to rove.
Chorus
Farewell and adieu to ye girls of St. Kryan'sOf Paradise and Presque, Big and Little Bona[12] I'm bound unto Toslow to marry sweet BiddyAnd if I don't do so I'm afraid of her da'.[13]
Chorus
I've bought me a house from Katherine DavisA twenty pound bed from Jimmy McGrath[14] I'll get me a settle,[15] a pot and a kettleAnd then I'll be ready for Biddy, hurrah!
Chorus
O, I brought in the Ino this spring from the city,Some rings and gold brooches for the girls in the Bay;I bought me a case-pipe[16] – they call it a meerschaum –It melted like butter upon a hot day.[17]
Chorus
I went to a dance one night at Fox Harbour,There were plenty of girls, so nice as you'd wish;There was one pretty maiden a-chewin' of frankgum[18] Just like a young kitten a-gnawing fresh fish.
Chorus
Then here is a health to the girls of Fox HarbourOf Oderin and Presque, Crabbes Hole[19] and BruleNow let ye be jolly, don't be melancholyI can't marry all or in chokey[20] I'd be.
Chorus