Interesting Facts about Sacramento Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Capstan version
Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Capstan version was sung as a Capstan anchor shanty, especially when raising the “mud-hook”.
Patterson’s version is like Patterson’s shanties, unusual. The first difficulty is that Patterson in his book doesn’t give us music. In almost every shanty he inserts short refrains where usually no refrain existed. Stan Hugill says that Patterson called his shanty ‘hauling song’, and gives us one stanza, but this is not entirely true, because Patterson (J. E. Patterson “The Sea’s Anthology” 1913) labeled this song as ‘Capstan.’ and give three verses, and after these three verses, he gives another 4 verses under the label “The same: as a hauling chanty'”. So this song will be ‘Capstan.’ Hauling version I will sing separately.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 112).
The lyrics: “The Sea’s Anthology” – J. E. Patterson (1913).
The Record of the Banks Of Sacramento – Patterson Capstan version
You also can find this record on my YouTube channel here or directly listen below. Additionally, if you want to share your opinion about the record or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or leave a comment at the bottom of this blog article.
The full lyrics
Banks Of Sacramento (Patterson Capstan version)
Now, my lads, get your beds and lie down
– To me hoodah! To me hoodah!
Now, my lads, get your beds and lie down
– To me hoodah, hoodah, O!
– Blow, my bully-boys, blow,
– For Californi-O !
– There’s plenty of gold,
– So I’ve been told,
– On the banks of Sacramento!
* 2 *
In the Black Ball Line I served my time
In the Black Ball Line I served my time
* 3 *
O that was the line for cracking it on
O that was the line for cracking it on