Roll The Old Chariot (Stamp-n-go)

Interesting Facts about Roll The Old Chariot

Roll The Old Chariot is one of the most popular “stamp-n-go” shanties. William Main Doerflinger in his “Shantymen and Shantyboys” (1951), says that it is based on the words of a Salvation Army revivalist hymn and that the tune is a Scottish reel. It seems without any doubt that the shanty is of Negro origin.

The song will be reconstructed by myself as the stamp-n-go shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 151 ).

The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 151 ).

The Record of the Roll The Old Chariot

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.

Roll The Old Chariot - Stamp And Go Shanty

The musical notation

roll-the-old-chariot music notation

The full lyrics

Roll The Old Chariot

0h, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm,
Oh, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm,
0h, a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm,
And we’ll all hang on behind!


– So we’ll … ro-o-oll the old chariot along!
– And we’ll roll the golden chariot along!
– Oh, we’ll ro-o-oll the old chariot along!
– An’ we’ll all hang on behind!

* 2 *

0h, a plate of Irish stew wouldn’t do us any harm,
Oh, a plate of Irish stew wouldn’t do us any harm,
0h, a plate of Irish stew wouldn’t do us any harm,
And we’ll all…

* 3 *

Oh, a nice fat cook wouldn’t do us any harm.

* 4 *

Oh, roll in the clover wouldn’t do us any harm.

* 5 *

Oh, a long spell in goal wouldn’t do us any harm.

* 6 *

Oh, a nice watch below wouldn’t do us any harm.

* 7 *

Oh, a night with the gals wouldn’t do us any harm.

Related to this sea shanty

Drunken Sailor (A)

Donkey Riding

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