Interesting Facts about Roll The Cotton Down (C) – Halyard Version
Here halyard version of the shanty “Roll the cotton down C” – Halyard, opens a big family of 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 “Deep-sea” version theme version. Because Stan Hugill gives us on page 155 the beautiful set of “Halyard only” stanzas, I also think is necessary to sing them, so here is the halyard variation of “Roll the cotton down C”.
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 154, 155 ).
The Record of the Roll The Cotton Down (C) – Halyard 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
Roll The Cotton Down (C)
Oh! away down south where I wuz born,
– Roll the cotton down!
Oh! away down south around Cape Horn
– We’ll roll the cotton down!
* 2 *
Oh! away down south around Cape Horn
Oh, we wisht to Christ we’d niver bin born!
* 3 *
Oh! away down south one winter’s morn,
Oh! away down south around Cape Horn.
* 4 *
We’re bound away to Mobile Bay,
We’re bound away at the break o’ day.
* 5 *
Oh, around Cape Horn we’re bound to go,
Around Cape Stiff midst the ice an’ snow.
* 6 *
Oh, ‘Frisco town is far behind,
An’ the gals down south are free an’ kind.
* 7 *
Oh, fare-ye-well we’re bound to go,
Never let it be said we’ll forget you.
“From here onward the verses are halyard ones only”
* 8 *
So stretch it aft an’ start a song,
A bloody fine song and it won’t take long.
* 9 *
Oh, stretch yer backs an’ haul away,
An’ make yer port an’ take yer pay.
* 10 *
I’ll sing ye a song if ye’ll git me some gin,
That’ll bouse this block right down to the pin.
* 11 *
Oh, rock ‘n’ shake ‘er is the cry,
The bloody topm’st sheave is dry.
* 12 *
Oh, haul away when she takes the next roll,
Why don’t the Mate shake ‘er, oh, Gawd blast his soul.
* 13 *
Oh, I wist Jonny Slite would keep his luff,
The bastard thinks we’ve hauled enough.
* 14 *
Oh, sweat that yard the Mate do say.
Give one more pull, lads, then belay!