Interesting Facts about the Rolling King
“Rolling King” sometimes called “South Australia”, is usually sung at capstan (anchor) and pumps. This shanty was probably born on the emigrant days when thousands traveled by sailing ship to Semaphore Roads, Port Adelaide, South Australia. We can find this song in the most significant shanty collections books such as L. A. Smith, Miss Colcord, or William Doerflinger.
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 193).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 193).
The Record of the Rolling King
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
Rolling King
South Australia is me home,
– Heave away! Heave away!
South Australia is me home,
– An’ we’re bound for south Australia!
– He-ave away! Heave away!
– He-ave away you Rolling King
– An’ we’re bound for south Australia!
* 2 *
My wife is stadin’ on the quay,
The tears do start as she waves to me,
* 3 *
An’ when I’m on a foreign shore,
I’ll think o’ me darlin’ that I adore.
* 4 *
There ain’t but one thing grieves me mind,
To leave my wife an’ child bechind.
* 5 *
There ain’t but one thing grieves me
An’ that’s me wife an’ dear ba-bee.
* 6 *
An’ as I stand on a foreign shore,
I’ll drink to the wife that I adore.
* 7 *
Now I’m on a foreign strand,
With a glass o’ pisco in me hand.
* 8 *
I’ll drink a glass to my own shore,
I’ll drink to the gal that I adore.
* 9 *
I’ll tell ye now, it ain’t no lie,
I’ll love that gal until I die.
* 10 *
This cross ye see at the bottom of the line,
Is only to keep ye in my mind.
* 11 *
Now we’re homeward bound again,
I’ll soon be seeing Sarah Jane.
* 12 *
Oh, fare-ye-well, now fare-ye-well,
Oh, fare-ye-well, I wish ye well.