Ranzo Ray

DESCRIPTION: Shanty. First refrain "Ranzo, Ranzo, hurray, hurray" (or "away, away), second refrain usually "Hilo me Ranzo ray." Verses tell of destinations and cargos, i.e. "we're bound for Yokohammer, with a load o' grand pianners."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1914 (Sharp-EnglishFolkChanteys)
KEYWORDS: shanty ship commerce travel
FOUND IN: Britain US
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Hugill-ShantiesFromTheSevenSeas, pp. 247-249, "Ranzo Ray" (3 texts, 3 tunes) [AbEd, pp. 179-182]
Sharp-EnglishFolkChanteys, XIX, p. 22, "The Bully Boat" (1 text, 1 tune)
ADDITIONAL: Captain John Robinson, "Songs of the Chantey Man," a series published July-August 1917 in the periodical _The Bellman_ (Minneapolis, MN, 1906-1919). "Ranso Ray" is in Part 1, 7/14/1917.
Roud #327
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Huckleberry Hunting" (similar refrain)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Rando Ray
NOTES [31 words]: Bone, in his notes to "Reuben Ranzo," was of the opinion that the word "Ranzo" somehow seemed to suit the action of hauling, which might explain its use in both this song and that. - RBW
File: Hugi247

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