New York Girls

"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]

Lyrics[]

The lyrics have many variations, but almost all versions contain this chorus, sung after each verse:^[3]

And away, you Santee
My dear Annie
Oh, you New York girls
Can't you dance the polka?

An less common alternate chorus is:^[4]

And away, you Johnny
My dear honey
Oh, you New York girls
You love us for our money

The lyrics are often a cautionary tale of a sailor being tricked by a pretty girl, who ends up spending all of his money and, in some cases, robbing him. This is summed up in these verses found in some versions:^[5]

So come all you bully sailormen, take warning when ashore
Or else you'll meet some charming girl who's nothing but a whore
Your hard-earned cash will disappear, your rig and boots as well
For Yankee girls are tougher than the other side of Hell

Recordings[]

The song has been recorded by many artists:^[2]

• 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)
• , Brass Mounted Army: Civil war Era Songs, Vol. VII (1999)
• Roberts and Barrand, Across the Western Ocean (2000)
• Gaelic Storm, Tree (2001).
• Finbar Furey, Gangs of New York: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture (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.

References[]