Shanghai'd

Just saw a "Folk song of the day" video from 1 year ago that featured the song "blow the man down."

In it Patrick explains how in the 19th century Black Ball freighters kidnapped drunkards, beat them, and when they woke up they were on a ship in the ocean/bay/sound/river or what have you. It was either work for them or drown trying to reach the shore.

It brought to mind the tour I took that I thoroughly enjoyed in Portland, OR (which was the #2 Shanghaiing port on the west coast after San Fransisco) which takes you into the tunnels they used to capture the drunk men from the taverns. I believe women were also taken for nefarious sex slaving business.. The bartenders would wait until some poor bloke, or a few, happened to stand on the right spot, a lever was pulled and BAM down to the tunnel they went where they were beaten and their boots taken so if they tried to escape.. the broken glass and nails strewn about would leave a trail of breadcrumbs so to speak.. Shanghaied crew were considered lower than the rats on board and when food was running out... you became dinner.

I've heard the song before, but never really understood what it meant. Blow the man down = beat the living hell out of him..

I really want to record this one as my first singing attempt since it is very simple (G and D in 3/4). So yeah, look forward to that.. if your reading this.