Sheet Music: Bobby Shafto

TitleBobby Shafto
ComposerTraditional English
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyD major
RangeA4–A5
Time signature2/4
Tempo100 BPM
Performance time0:20
Difficulty leveleasy
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (49 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (168 kB)
Date added2009-04-08
Last updated2009-04-08
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.6 (below average)
Categories
Nursery rhymes, Sea shanties, Traditional/Folk

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Wednesday 8 April 2009

Tune of the Day: Bobby Shafto

North East English folk song

Bobby Shafto's gone to sea,
Silver buckles on his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shafto!

Bobby Shafto's bright and fair,
Panning out his yellow hair;
He's my love for evermair,
Bonny Bobby Shafto!

Robert Shafto (sometimes spelt “Shaftoe”), an 18th Century British Member of Parliament, appears to be the likeliest subject of this famous nursery rhyme. The song is said to relate the story of how he broke the heart of Bridget Belasyse of Brancepeth Castle, County Durham, when he married Anne Duncombe of Duncombe Park in Yorkshire.