Interesting Facts about Roll The Cotton Down (B)
A very popular halyard shanty “Roll the cotton down” including Roll The Cotton Down (B) opens a big family of the shanties, which Stan Hugill describes as the shanty with the word ‘Roll’. As a matter of fact, it vies with ‘blow’ and ‘Hilo’ as the most popular word in a sailor’s work song.
The versions of this great shanty are:
(a) Negro Version
(b) Cotton-Stowers’ version
(c) Deep-sea version.
(d) Blackball version.
(e) Paddy and the railway.
(f) “A Long Time Ago”
This version is a “Cotton-Stowers’ version” theme version.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the halyard shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 154 ).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 153).
The Record of the Roll The Cotton Down (B)
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
Roll The Cotton Down (B)
Come rock an’ roll me over,
– Oh, ROLL the cotton DOWN!
Let,s get this damned job over,
– Oh, ROLL the cotton DOWN!
* 2 *
Was ye ever down in Mobile Bay,
Screwin’ cotton by the day?
* 3 *
Oh, a black man’s pay is rather low,
To stow the cotton we must go.
* 4 *
Oh, a white man’s pay is rather high,
Rock an’ shake ‘er is the cry.
* 5 *
Oh, so early in the mornin’, boys,
Oh, afore the day is dawnin’, boys.
* 6 *
Five dollars a day is a white man’s pay,
So bring yer screws an’ hooks this way.
* 7 *
And bring yer sampson posts likewise,
Oh, bear a hand, get a curve on, boys.
* 8 *
We’ll floor her off from fore to aft,
There five thousand bales for this ‘ere ceraft.
* 9 *
Lift her up an’ carry her along,
Screw her down where she belongs.
* 10 *
Oh, tier by tier we’ll stow ’em neat,
Until the job is made complete.
* 11 *
Oh, Mobile Bay’s no place for me,
I’ll pack me bags an’ go to sea
* 12 *
We’ll screw him up so handsomely,
And roll him over cheerily.
* 13 *
A white man’s pay is rather high,
An’ a black man’s pay is rather low.
* 14 *
Oh, come hither, all you slaver boys,
An’ come hither, all you bigger boys.