Tom Callinan

SHIVER ME TIMBERS!
Songs & Salty Tales Of Pirates, The Jolly Roger, Gold, Dubloons, & Pieces-Of-Eight

American Heritage Series
Participatory Programs For All Ages

All "Tom-The-Pirate" photos were taken at the Topsfield, Mass. Public Library by Carole Valliere

Tom The Pirate with "Calico Jack" during his adaptation of :

"Old McDonald Was A Pirate" (Har, Har, Har, Har, Har! )

... And on his leg there was a peg ...(Har, Har, Har, Har, Har! )
... And on his eye there was a patch ... (Har, Har, Har, Har, Har! )
... And on his arm there was a hook ... (Har, Har, Har, Har, Har! )
    Etc., etc. ...

Tom-The-Pirate, performs and teaches: chanteys (work songs) and sea songs about pirates, buccaneers, privateers, salty dogs, and a host of infamous nautical no-accounts. Self-accompanied on an array of string, wind, and percussion instruments, Tom gets the toes tapping and the hands clapping with spirited instrumental tunes played on a pennywhistle or ocarina.

Follow Captain Kidd's exploits in a song that was being distributed as a broadside when he was being marched to the gallows at Execution Dock in 1701. Lament with the last survivor of Barrett's Privateers. Go Over The Irish Sea with a silly ditty that will delight the kid(d?) in audiences of all ages.  Blow-high, blow-low with a song about a saucy Barbary pirate.

Join in with some singable choruses to old sailor songs to pass on historical (and sometimes hysterical!)  perspectives of the sea, marine-life, and maritime life to mariners and land-lubbers alike.  Pull imaginary halyards to the tune of "What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor?", or weigh anchor by using a simulated capstan and working cooperatively while singing along with "Blow The Man Down", "Paddy West", etc. Envision sailors' misperceptions about whales through a couple of humorous ditties in which mariners were swallowed by leviathans.

Learn to play the spoons, become part of a "foo-foo" band selected from audience volunteers, and revel in an assortment of songs and tales about the comings and goings, the shipwrecks, the pirates, the trash and the treasure - past and present.

Tom The Pirate with "Calico Jack" #2 during his adaptation of :

"Old McDonald Was A Pirate" (Har, Har, Har, Har, Har! )

... And in his hand there was a musket ...(Har, Har, Har, Har, Har! )
... And in his hook was 'Jolly Roger" ... (Har, Har, Har, Har, Har! )
    Etc., etc. ...

Tom The Pirate with motley crew during anchor-raising with simulated capstan.

Tom The Pirate with motley crew, raising the old "mud-hook" to the tune of "Blow The Man Down".

While Tom The Pirate toots "The Sailors Hornpipe" on pennywhistle his "Foo-Foo" Band plays:
spoons, bodhran, & limberjack as rhythmic accompaniment.