Interesting Facts about the Bound To California
Bound To California is a capstan shanty of the Gold Rush Period which Miss C. F. Smith found and published in her “A Book of Shanties” (1927). She mentions, that Captain J. L. Vivian Millett singer who sang this song to her, remembers, that he heard it sung at Algoa Bay, in the days when anchorage off that port was still crowded with sailing ships.
” …A big vessel was just getting up her anchor. She had a good shanty crowd, and the chorus roared out by a score of voices came over the waters of the open roadstead with an unforgettable effect”.
Unfortunately, Captain Millett could only give Miss Smith the chorus of this shanty.
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 118).
The lyrics: Shanties from the Seven Seas by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 118).
The Record of the Bound To California
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 musical notation
The full lyrics
Bound To California
Good-bye, my lads, good-bye,
No one can tell me why
I am bound to California
To reap the shining gold!
Good-bye, my lads, good-bye,
No one can tell me why
I am bound to California
To reap the shining gold