What shall we do with all this furniture?
What shall we do with all this furniture?
What shall we do with all this furniture?
We must get things ready.
CHORUS
Here we are, shifting chairs again.
Here we are, shifting chairs again.
Here we are, shifting chairs again.
We must get things ready.
What shall we do with all those tables?
What shall we do with all those tables?
What shall we do with all those tables?
We must get things ready.
CHORUS
Stack 'em in the corner and forget 'em.
Stack 'em in the corner and forget 'em.
Stack 'em in the corner and forget 'em.
We must get things ready.
CHORUS
Pile 'em high but do not scratch 'em.
Pile 'em high but do not scratch 'em.
Pile 'em high but do not scratch 'em.
We must get things ready.
CHORUS
Grab the chairs and line them up again.
Grab the chairs and line them up again.
Grab the chairs and line them up again.
We must get things ready.
CHORUS
Curve the ends round and make it friendlier.
Curve the ends round and make it friendlier.
Curve the ends round and make it friendlier.
We must get things ready.
CHORUS
It's nearly time to let the audience in.
It's nearly time to let the audience in.
It's nearly time to let the audience in.
We must get things ready.
CHORUS
Oh Kay. that'll do for 'em.
Oh Kay. that'll do for 'em.
Oh Kay. that'll do for 'em.
Know we've got things ready!
Author notes
Far too often furniture needs re-arranging before a performance starts and some smart Alec always chimes in with the comment ""what we need is a furniture moving shanty""
The next time I'll be ready!!!
Written July 7th, 2005
In a list
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Comments
1 - 27 of 27
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I've actually had the privilege of singing this with a group of hairy shantymen (like me) at the International Festival of the Sea in Portsmouth last year. A great festival and a pleasant place to launch a new song.
Jim S -
now you have made this in preparation, no one will say we need a shanty, or they will just when you vanish to the shop or need the toilet.
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Argh!! A jazz shanty!!
Thanks for writing but I'd be drummed out of the Shellbacks if they thought I was getting Jazzy.
Repetition. Well shanties are work songs and most work is boring and repetitious
Jim S -
Thanks for writing. I am a teacher, I am English but I teach Mathematics ugh
This was prompted by the fact that whenever our group of shanty singers get together indoors we have to move chairs, tables etc. Everyone kept saying we need a furniture moving shanty so here it is. Maybe it'll be on the next CD but I doubt it.
Jim S -
Great one! could pass for a jazz chant that we usually see on those highschool textbooks...never thought repetition could add such creativity in a poem...
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A...excellent
I love it...you must be an English teacher in England..this is too cute...I've been writing since my sophomore in high school about 25 years ago, but recently have found this site and have started sharing some of my works...I'm more of a freestyle poet...enjoy writing short stories also...See My "Hurricane Saturday". It's kind of therapeutic for me, writing that is. Great job, my ap friend
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Hi there,
Glad you liked my bit of nonsense.
Thanks for the applause.
Jim S
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Bloody loved it...
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Sounds like the days of the Am Dram Society.We run them in,we run them in etc. etc. Brought back some fun memories, Ros
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This is just great fun singing. How do you do it?
~Michelle~
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I'll post your grade now. I needn't say too much here mwhahaha suspense is killing you right? mwhahaha
literary device of the day: repetition
literary device of the day: repetition -
A fairly well known "shanty" is the Drunken Sailor.
What shall we do with a drunken Sailor. What shall we do with a drunken Sailor. What shall we do with a drunken Sailor. Ear-lie in the morning.
That is the shanty I was parodying with this piece. I think it fits well but then I am biased.
Jim S -
Interesting write the only problem I have with this is that I don't know a proper tune to go with it,I have one in my head but I don't think its right.Anyways I glad you shared this with us I can say I learnt a new song today.
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Hello Von
I have the same vision with the addition of stereo sound. I wonder what I have started. Will it get on our next CD? Argh! what a thought.
Jim S -
Thanks Citrus
I should have considered the geriatrics in our shanty crew.
Oh dear; I'm too old for this x3
The old shanties were routinely added to with improvisations (often derogatory ones about the captain) so feel free to ad lib.
I hope you get the kids to join in. Youngsters usually enjoy a strong rhythm.
Jim S
Edited on Jul 08, 9:14 because ''. -
I have this vision of all the chairs being moved around plus a table here and a table there and singing this tune. it would certainly help to get the evening going with a laugh.
Von -
haha now you`ve done it....every time we move the tables and chairs for dancing in nursery I shall probably start singing this....and I might add this verse...
Oh I am just too old for this lark
I am just too old for this lark
I am just too old for this lark
Let me have a lie down.
Have you ever played that silly game where you have to sing everything instead of say it......if so you can be my partner!
Another song you could adapt is....There`s a hole in my bucket....Theres a gap in the curtains dear Kay dea Kay etc etc
Great bit of fun, loved it.
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Thanks Phil,
The Drunken Sailor was my inspiration even though I was sober!
Shifting chairs before we sing is getting to be a habit with our shanty group and the idea has been a standing joke with us. I just managed to get the inspiration first.
Jim S -
Hi Em,
Thanks for the words of praise but it was sheer chance. For 4 or 5 years a group of us have been talking about furniture moving shanties and as we were singing The Drunken Sailor at Portsmouth everything clicked. Then when I saw Kryspin's assignment yesterday it had to be!
Jim S -
Thanks Anemone,
I'm pleased that you got the original tune. I was aiming at a straight parody because I don't yet have the skill to make up my own tunes.
Have fun.
Jim S -
when would you use this on a ship?
it's great!! immediately thought of the drunken sailor shanty, it's halirious good parody. only by the end of it i had figured out it was for a concert and after unfolding a ton of chairs i can appreciate. agreeing with the person above who mentioned it would indeed be a good thing to learn for the next furnature i have to move.
don't drop them and make a huge crash
don't drop them and make a huge crash
don't drop them and make a huge crash
we must get things ready.
teheh awesome fun
gooday
phil -
very funny J .... i wish it had sparked an idea in me ... i am stumped with satire ... you tackled it well >>>> EM
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When I first started reading it, I thought of the song "What Should We Do with a Drunken Sailor".
I love this, and I will happily sing it to the tune I mentioned above next time I am moving furniture. -
Thanks Rocker. I've adjusted the title to make it more obvious.
It is a chanty, shanty or work song.
As I said to PoisonxXx, at least you don't have to listen to me sing it (as someone will soon)!!
Ji S -
Just a bit of fun parodying something for a piece of "homework"
At least you don't have to listen to me sing it!!!
Jim S -
Cool
Yes, It was different! At first I thought it was too repetitious but then I realized that it was more of a chant than a song or poem. And as for the chant-I loved it! Great job! Keep on Keepin on.
~Rocker -
lol. okeee. at least its different....
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