Interesting Facts about Sally Brown (A)
This is another “roll” shanty, the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown”, Sally Brown (A) is the capstan shanty, as Stan Hugill mentions it is only one theme in this song, and it is – all about Sally and her daughter. As an author of “Shanties from The Seven Seas” mentioned – there existed many obscene verses, which accounts partly for the fact that popularity never waned! Worth mentioning is the fact that most of the verses Stan Hugill has from my favored shantyman (due to his yelps), Harding Barabadaian the West Indian Seamen.
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 162).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 163, 164).
The Record of the Sally Brown (A)
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
Sally Brown (A)
Ooh! Sally Brown she’s a bright mulatter,
– Way-hay, Roll an’ go!
She drinks rum an’ chaws terbacker,
– Spend my money on Sally Brown!
* 2 *
Sally lives on the old plantation,
She is daughter of the Wild Goose Nation.
* 3 *
Seven long years I courted Sally,
But all she did was dilly-dally,
* 4 *
Sally Brown’s a big buck creole,
Her bow is big, but her starn is bigger.
* 5 *
I brought her growns an’ I bought ‘er laces,
Took her out to all the places.
* 6 *
Sally’s teeth are white an’ pearly,
Her eyes are black an’ her hair is curly.
* 7 *
Sally lives in ol’ Jamaica,
Sellin’ rum an’ grown’ terbacker
* 8 *
I call her my ol, Queen of Faces,
Bought her coral beads an’ laces.
* 9 *
The sweetest flower in the valley,
Is my own my pretty Sally.
* 10 *
Sally Brown, what is the matter?
Pretty gal, but can’t git at her.
* 11 *
Sally Brown, I love ye dearly,
Ye had me heart, or very nearly.
* 12 *
Sally Brown’s a wild ol’ lady,
Sally’s got a creole baby
* 13 *
Sally Brown she wouldn’t marry,
An’ I no longer cared to tarry.
* 14 *
Sally Brown, I love yer daughter,
I love Yer farm beside the water.
* 15 *
Sally Brown, I kissed yer daughter,
Stopped her rum an’ gave her water.
* 16 *
She wouldn’t have a tarry sailor,
So I shipped away in a New Bedford whaler.
* 17 *
Sally Brown, I took a notion,
To sail across the flamin’ ocean.
* 18 *
I shipped away in a New Bedford whaler,
When I got back she wuz courtin’ a tailor.
* 19 *
Now me troubles they are over,
Sally’s married to a creol solider.
* 20 *
He beat her up an’ stole her money,
Then left her with a creol baby.
21 *
Sally Brown, I’m bound ter leave yer,
Sally Brown, I’ll not deceive yer.