Old Bloke Picking On A Banjo | The Longest Johns 

This sounds like something a conductor would sing to keep passengers entertaimed when the train breaks down, and I love that.

2:17 You can tell Andy is only using a fraction of his power here. He could have gone much faster

Lyrics: He bang, she bang, Daddy shot a bear! Shot him in the stern me boys, And never turned a hair. (Chorus) We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo. Hoorah! What the Hell's the row? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo. Hat get back, take in your slack, And heave away me boys! Heave away me bully boys! Why don't you make some noise? (Chorus) Rock her block, chock'a block, Heave the capstan round! Fish the flaming anchor up, For we are outward bound! (Chorus) Out chocks, two blocks, Heave away or bust! Bend your backs me bully boys, Kick up some flaming dust! (Chorus) Roll her boys, bowl her boys, Give a flaming gyp! Drag the anchor off the mud, And let the bastard rip! (Chorus) Whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, The mud hook is in sight! Tis' a hell of a way, to the gals that wait, And the old Nantucket light! We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo. Hurah! What the hell's the row? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo. Hurah! What the hell's the row? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo.

someone should tell the old bloke that bullying is mean, what did that poor banjo ever do to him? (jokes aside so excited to have a proper recording of this :DDD )

Ooooh, I love this song! I love it with Andy singing it, and I love singing it myself. It probably doesn't sound as good when I sing it, but it's fun so I don't care.

Hoorah! Trains are the ships of the land!

I've said this before but I'd love to see your guys do "Star of the county down" if you haven't already

I also love the delicious irony that this is acapella, and doesn't feature, you know, a mandolin.

I notice a distinct lack of a banjo

Adequate performance! Would love to hear My Son John get a studio version!

Would love to see how you guys do the classic Australian folk song “Waltzing Matilda”

Would still love to see Antiguan Graveyard or Agamemnon! Maybe foggy dew or come out ye black and tans too. Was a bit surprised the song about a guy with a banjo didnt have a banjo

Extremely stomping adequate lads!

This is lovely! Still voting for Star of the County Down for studio magic. Thanks boys!

For once I got to see the premier. This song was great! A cover of "White Squall" and "Big Hewer" would be fantastic!

@TheLongestJohns . this needs to be on spotify!

Ooh a little slower than stream versions. I like it. I like singing along to it

That slow beat is very effective Adequate performance!!

This has been one of my favorites ever since I first heard you sing it in one of your livestreams (and thank you for changing out the old lyric; we can love the music without perpetuating all the isms of the past). [Stomp!]

ADEQUATE!!! Andy did an amazing job leading this one! Perfect as always fellas

a cover of 'Over the Hills' form sharpe, 'Cornwall My Home' from the fishermans friends or 'Skull and Bones' from home free would be amazing.

He bang, she bang, Daddy shot a bear! Shot him in the stern me boys, And never turned a hair. We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Hoorah! What the Hell's the row? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Hat get back, take in your slack, And heave away me boys! Heave away me bully boys! Why don't you make some noise? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Hoorah! What the Hell's the row? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Rock her block, chock'a block, Heave the capstan round! Fish the flaming anchor up, For we are outward bound! We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Hoorah! What the Hell's the row? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Out chocks, two blocks, Heave away or bust! Bend your backs me bully boys, Kick up some flaming dust! We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Hoorah! What the Hell's the row? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Roll her boys, bowl her boys, Give a flaming gyp! Drag the anchor off the mud, And let the bastard rip! We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Hoorah! What the Hell's the row? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, The mud hook is in sight! Tis' a hell of a way, to the gals that wait, And the old Nantucket light! We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Hurah! What the hell's the row? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo And the old bloke picking on the banjo Hurah! What the hell's the row? We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo We're all from the railroad too-ra-loo~ And the old bloke picking on the banjo ♥

Wow this has quickly become a favorite well done lads

I was having a pretty terrible day until I saw that you guys uploaded. Amazing work every time

This is what I mean, folks, so much talent and so much joy in one song. Keep 'm coming guys! You made my day!

One of my all time favourites! Thanks for the recording

Ahh so glad we’re getting a video for this one!

Great job boys! can't wait for this to come to Spotify!

This absolutely rules, I've been wanting a studio version of this song for AGES! Absolutely Adequate! 💕

Love this! I first heard a variation called Old Joe from the first Pyrates Royale cd. Got really interested in the lyrics, so I looked them up. Found several variations (and I love them all!)

Quite adequate! I'm loving the rhythm in this one.

I really love your guys works. From the more serious stuff to the more comedic stuff. They remind me a lot of the music and groups I enjoy at the Renaissance faire. I'd love to see you do some of the more obscure songs from some of the bands that frequent that circuit. Would love to see you do Happy Jack's Undrinkable Ale

Loving it!! You guys should make a song about the Triple Trawler Tragedy in Hull 1968 :)

Ooh I like the slightly slowed tempo. Especially with so many other songs (like Shawnee Town) seemingly being sped up right recently.

Can’t wait to see Andy’s rap career!

Such a great song, good job guys your all so amazing!

Decidedly adequate! Hope tour is going swimmingly

Rapping train shanty for the win!

WE MAKIN IT OUTTA THE RAILROAD WITH THIS ONE

Yay! I always love when this song comes up on the streams! I'd really like to hear you guys do Poor Man's House by Patty Griffin, or Red from RDR2.

wonderful! i would love to hear bright morning stars

That... was ....fkn... amazing !👏

There’s an old song by Norman Blake from the 70’s that I think would suit you. It’s about a 19th century outlaw named Billy GrayThe song is called Billy Gray or True Love Knows no Season. Planxty did an awesome version. I’d love to hear you guys doing it.

The first time I heard this one, the singer had changed the refrain to "We're all from the navy". Never understood why the railroad lads were on a ship working capstan and anchor.

Stomp

Fantastic preformance as always! If y'all are still taking suggestions, I would love to hear your take of "Which Side Are You On".

I would love to hear this one with the Dreadnoughts ❤‍🔥

Adequate! Would love to see Star of the County Down next!

Another great cover. Please cover St. Therese by the Stillwater Hobos next. Thanks!

Pretty cool

Still requesting Court of the Crimson King

It's gonna take some getting used to with this being so much slower than I'm used to from the streams. It's still good, but I've always loved the faster version, especially the tongue twister-y bit in the last verse. That's the version I had been hoping for. Oh well.. Edit: I'm starting to get used to it. I can like this version too. But I hope the fast version will still happen on streams :P Anyway. Other requests: Wreck of the Dandenong and Antiguan graveyard. Apparently I want more songs that make me cry..? But they're so pretty..

So........where's the banjo? This was a welcome surprise. Please stop telling me about the concert in Sheffield an hour by train from here. I couldn't get home until the following day. So frustrating to be so near but yet so far. I'm sure it will be full to the rafters without me. Have a great tour!

Would love to hear an Annabelle Lee cover by this group.

wonderful!! have you ever done a version of Hares on the Mountain? i think that would sound really good in your style

I’m hoping for a cover of the pump shanty ❤ good show

I did not know that Robbie had green eyes If I turn my phone horizontal, I can see it easily.

Adequate indeed, gentlemen

I had a cd with a band that did a version of this but the lyrics were 'We're all from the Navy', but I can't find the band or the cd. Great cover though.

It's actually really good at 1.25 speed as well

Finally!!!

Well, I said it before, but I would love a proper video of Sam Hall

How did they get press-ganged off the railroad, though?

At last!

I like the song but I have no idea what's it about!!!

Sam Hall, please!

Is there any possibility of adding the community project songs to spotify?

שלום!!!!!

PS How does it know where my nearst events are, anyway? Even my anti-virus keeps saying everyone can see I'm in..... a series of places I've never heard of and some I know to be hours away. Spooky.

😍😍😍😍😍

Bloke??? Never heard this sung using that word in 45 years of chantying... Good bottom to this though. Stan Hugill explanied this as a bunch of former railroad workers growling this out on a dock to impress the mate of a windbag to give them a job because they were the real deal and not a bunch of beachcombers and pollywogs.

You do know it’s not bloke. I think because the real word is offensive to some.