Christine & Katherine were the daughters of share-croppers Mary & Walter Shipp.

Walter was a minister, Mary a choir director - they had 14 children.

Katherine tells Herbert Halpert that she learned the song “when she was small, a puppy, really.”

Christine adds, “We sung this song when we was playing . . .

we just wanted to have something to be saying.”

I was first drawn to the sound of their voices, and then to the simplicity of the tune - a game song.

I wanted to see how many different styles I could make work with it –

Celtic, old-time, R&B and early jazz - as well as putting it in a ‘playground’ setting,

where it naturally belonged.

This song has been around for a long time.

Nina Simone recorded it in 1964 as “See Line Woman.”

It has also been recorded recently by Feist and Ollabelle.

Liz Carroll is a world-renowned celtic fiddler.

She won the Senior All-Ireland Fiddle Championship when she was 18,

and performed for President Barack Obama at the annual St. Patrick’s Day luncheon in 2009.

Thanks to Mary Shipp Baldwin, daughter of Mr Isaac Shipp, brother of Christine & Katherine

Source Recordings:

“Sea Lion Woman” sung by Christine & Katherine Shipp

recorded by Herbet Halpert in Byhalia, MS – May 13, 1939

Musicians

Andy Baker – trombone

Alan Berliant - bass

Liz Carroll - Celtic fiddle

Orbert Davis - trumpet & muted trumpet

Richie Davis - electric guitar

Jim Gailloreto - saxes & clarinet

Curt Morrison - electric guitar & tenor banjo

Steve Mullen - piano, organ, keys, synth & drum programming

John Rice - acoustic steel guitar, banjo, acoustic slide guitar, dobro & lap steel

Rob Stone - harmonica

Jeff Thomas - drums, percussion & hand claps

John Williams - button box, accordion & celtic flute

Group Vocals:

Cynthia Butts

Joan Collaso

Steve Mullen

Clara Smith

Herbert Walker

Sonja Whitmore

Lead Vocals - Christine & Katherine Shipp

“Sealion Woman, Sealion”

(lyrics)

‘the name of this song is ‘Sealion Woman’ (spoken)

sea, sealion woman

I learned it when I was small

a little puppy, oh yeah (also spoken)

sealion woman, sealion

she drank coffee, sealion

she drank tea, sealion

and the gander lied, sealion

way down yonder, sealion

‘hind the log, sealion

and the rooster crowed, sealion,

and the gander lied,

sealion woman, sealion

she drank coffee, sealion

she drank tea, sealion

and the gander lied sealion

way, way down,

way, way way down

way down yonder, sealion

‘hind the log, sealion

and the rooster crowed, sealion,

and the gander lied,

way, way down,

way down yonder

way, way way down

sealion woman, sealion

she drank coffee, sealion

she drank tea, sealion

and the gander lied, sealion