This is another shanty with “Roll and Go!”. This song is another diamond found by Cecil Sharp, which has been sung by a very famous shantyman called Short of Watchet, Somerset, who said it was used at the capstan. This song is a combination of “Sally Brown” and “A Long Time Ago”.
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 167).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 167).
The Record of the Roll And Go
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
And the full lyrics
Roll And Go
O Sally Brown she promised me, – A long time ago. She promised for to mary me. – Way-ay roll and go, O she promised for to mary me. – A long time ago!
* 2 *
O Sally Brown’s the girl for me, – A long time ago. O Sally Brown she slighted me, – Way-ay roll and go, O Sally Brown she slighted me, – A long time ago!
* 3 *
As I walked out one morning fair, – A long time ago. It’s then I met her I do declare, – Way-ay roll and go, It’s then I met her I do declare, – A long time ago!
This is another “roll” shanty, the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown”. Sally Brown (C) is the halyard shanty, as Stan Hugill mentions it is only one theme of this song, and it is – all about Sally and her daughter. As the author of “Shanties from The Seven Seas” mentioned – there existed many obscene verses, which accounts partly for the fact that popularity never waned! Stan Hugill heard this version, very popular on halyards, from Old Smith of Tobago, a great West Indian shantyman.
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 165).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 163).
The Record of the Sally Brown (C)
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 (C)
Oh! Sally Brown she’s a bright mulato, – WAY-ay, ay, ay, YAH! Oh, She drinks rum an’ chaws terbacco, – Oh, WALK along you 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.
Interesting Facts about Sally Brown (A – Dick Maitland version)
This Sally Brown (A – Dick Maitland version), was sung by Dick Maitland, a shantyman whose shanties were the core of the collection of William Main Doerflinger. Here is how this shanty was commented by Doerflinger: Favorite heroine of shanty lore was the beguiling, rum-drinking, fickle Sally Brown. “Some people might think Sally Brown was rather immoral,” Dick Maitland philosophized, “but it was the way of the world in the days!” This I another “roll” shanty, the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown”. This is a capstan shanty, as Stan Hugill mentions it is only one theme of this song, and it is – all about Sally and her daughter. As the author of “Shanties from The Seven Seas” mentioned – there existed many obscene verses, which accounts partly for the fact that popularity never waned!
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shantymen And Shantyboys” by William Main Doerflinger (1951).
The lyrics: “Shantymen And Shantyboys” by William Main Doerflinger (1951).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 164).
The Record of the Sally Brown (A – Dick Maitland 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 musical notation
The full lyrics
Sally Brown (A – Dick Maitland version)
Saly Brown was a gay old lady, – Way-ay, Roll and go! Oh, Saly Brown was a Creole lady, – Spend my money on Sally Brown!
* 2 *
She had a farm in the isle of Jamaica, Where she raised sugarcane, rum an, terbacker.
* 3 *
Also she had a fine young daughter, And that’s the gal that I was after,
* 4 *
Seven long years I courted the daughter, And when I asked her if she’d marry,
* 5 *
She would not have a tarry sailor! She would not have a tarry sailor!
* 6 *
“Those lily-white hands and slender waist? A tarry sailor I’ll ne’er embrace!”
* 7 *
But now my troubles they’re almost over, Sally got married to a creol solider.
* 8 *
He beat and abused her and stole her money, And left her with creol baby.
* 9 *
One night she was taken with a pain in her belly, And they sent for a doctor and his name was kelly.
* 10 *
He rode a horse with a ropeyarn bridle, And he laid young Sally on the table
* 11 *
And from her took a little tar baby. Oh, Sally dear, why didn’t you have me?
Interesting Facts about Sally Brown (A – Stanley Slade version)
This I another “roll” shanty the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown”, this particular version is called, Sally Brown (A – Stanley Slade). This is a capstan shanty, as Stan Hugill mentions it is only one theme of this song, and it is – all about Sally and her daughter. As the author of “Shanties from The Seven Seas” mentioned – there existed many obscene verses, which accounts partly for the fact that popularity never waned! Stan Hugill mentions that, with this version of the melody, the word was always added to make the text match the notes. A very famous shantyman from Bristol, Stanley Slade always sang in this fashion.
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 163).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 163, 164).
The Record of the ut Sally Brown (A – Stanley Slade 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 musical notation
The full lyrics
Sally Brown (A – Stanley Slade version)
Ooh! Sally Brown she’s a bright mulatter, – Way-hay, Roll an’ go! She drinks rum and ALWAYS chaws terbacker, – Spend my money on Sally Brown!
* 2 *
Sally lives on the old plantation, She is daughter of the ANCIENT Wild Goose Nation.
* 3 *
Seven long years I courted Sally, But all she did was GREATLY dilly-dally,
* 4 *
Sally’s teeth are white an’ pearly, Her eyes are black an’ her LOVELY hair is curly.
* 5 *
Sally lives in ol’ Jamaica, Sellin’ rum an’ grown’ STRONG terbacker
* 6 *
I call her my ol, Queen of Faces, Bought her coral beads an’ SEXY laces.
This I another “roll” shanty, the most famous “Roll an’ Go!”, also known as “Sally Brown (A2)”. This is a capstan shanty, as Stan Hugill mentions it is only one theme of this song, and it is – all about Sally and her daughter. As the 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 163).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 163, 164).
The Record of the Sally Brown (A2)
In this reconstruction, I will only sing two verses to show another version mentioned by Stan Hugill. The melody of this version differs from the previous ending.
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 (A2)
Ooh! Saly 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.
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.
Interesting Facts about Roll The Woodpile Down – capstan
Roll The Woodpile Down – capstan, is another shanty that is partially related to “Roll The Cotton Down”. This particular version mentioned by Stan Hugill belongs to S. Taylor Harris, and as a chorus instead of “Rollin’, Rollin” is used “Trav’ling, Treav’ling”, and this is all we can get about Harris’s version. The whole version we can find in S. Taylor Harris’s “Six Sea Shanties”(1925), fortunately for me I owned this super unique book, so I will be really pleased to reconstruct this beautiful version. This song I will sing as a capstan shanty.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the capstan shanty.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Six Sea Shanties” by S. Taylor Harris (1925).
The lyrics: “Six Sea Shanties” by S. Taylor Harris (1925).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 161).
The Record of the Roll The Woodpile Down – capstan
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
Roll The Woodpile Down
The white folk larfed as the coon pass’d by, – ‘Way down in Florida. The white folk larfed as the coon pass’d by, – An’ we’ll roll the woodpile down! – Trav’ling, Trav’ling! as long as the worl’ goes roun’ – That brown gal of mine on the Georgia Line, – An’ we’ll roll the woodpile down.
* 2 *
The roof do leak and the rain come froo, The roof do leak and the rain come froo,
* 3 *
Old Runkelkeit was a dam good cook, Old Runkelkeit was a dam good cook,
* 4 *
Oh! the work is hard and the biscuits too, Oh! the work is hard and the biscuits too,
Interesting Facts about Roll The Cotton Down (C) – Capstan Version
Here capstan’s version of the shanty “Roll the cotton down”, Roll The Cotton Down (C) – Capstan, 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 words 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.
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 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) – Capstan 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 musical notation
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!
– R0ll the cotton, – R0ll the cotton, Moses! – R0ll the cotton, – Oh! 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.
Interesting Facts about the My Bonnie Highland Lassie-O
My Bonnie Highland Lassie-O is the capstan shanty related to “The Powder Monkey” shore sea song, and “Donkey Riding”. “My Bonnie Highland Lassie-O” is a song used both for anchor work and for hauling logs through the timber ports of the droghers. This version Stan Hugill learned from his friend Seamus Ennis of the B.B.C. Folk-Song team. Seamus Ennis collected it in Ireland, from the McDonagh family, Feanish Island, Carna, Country Galway.
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 149).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 149, 150).
The Record of the My Bonnie Highland Lassie-O
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
My Bonnie Highland Lassie-O
Were you ever in Roundstone Town? – Bonnie lassie, highland lassie! Were you ever in Roundstone Town? – My bonnie highland lassie-0? I was often in Roundstone Town, Drinking milk and eating flour, – Altough I am a young maid, – That lately left my mammy-O!
* 2 *
Were you ever in Galway Bay? – Bonnie lassie, highland lassie! Were you ever in Galway Bay, – My bonnie highland lassie-0? I was often in Galway Bay, Drinking coffe and bohay, – Altough I am a young maid, – That lately left my mammy-O!
* 3 *
Were you ever in Quebec? – Bonnie lassie, highland lassie! Were you ever in Quebec? – My bonnie highland lassie-0? I was often in Quebec, Throwing timber up on deck, – Altough I am a young maid, – That lately left my mammy-O!
* 4 *
Are you fit to sweep the floor? – Bonnie lassie, highland lassie! Are you fit to sweep the floor? – My bonnie highland lassie-0? I am fit to sweep the floor, As the lock is for the door, – Altough I am a young maid, – That lately left my mammy-O!
Here the one of the most famous “stamp-‘n’-go shanty Hieland Laddie (A). The “Hieland Laddie” comes from the old Scottish march and a dance tune, very popular as walkaway and capstan shanty in old Dundee whalers. In the Ferris & Tozer collection appears as a halyard shanty (in this case of course without a grand chorus). Stan Hugill learned this version from Bosun Chenoworth who had sailed for years in the hard-bitten whaling ships of Dundee. Song with this amount of verses is obvious capstan shanty, to use as walk away it sings in unison, and is used in about half of the stanzas.
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 143).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 143,144).
The Record of the Hieland Laddie (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
Hieland Laddie (A)
There wuz a laddie came from Scotland, – Hie-land laddie! Bonnie laddie! Bonnie ladie from far Scotland, – Me Bonnie Hie-land laddie O!
– Way, hay an’ away we go! – Hie-land laddie, bonnie ladie! – Way, hay, an’ away we go! – Me bonnie Hie-land laddie O!
* 2 *
Where have ye been all the day? Where have ye been all the day?
* 3 *
I did not see ye doon the glen, I did not see ye near the burn,
* 4 *
‘Nay, I wuz no doon the glen, Nay I wuz no near the burn.
* 5 *
But I went to seek a road to fortune, Thought I’d find a road to fortune.
* 6 *
I joined a ship an’ went a-sailin’, Sailed far north an’ went a-whalin’.
* 7 *
Shipped far north on a Dundee whaler, Shipped far north as a whalin’ sailor.
* 8 *
Bound away to Iceland cold, Found much ice but not much gold.
* 9 *
Greenland is a cold country, Not the place for you and me.
* 10 *
Thought it was a way to fortune, But whalin’s not the road to fortune.
* 11 *
Wist meself in Bonnie Scotland, Back agen in Bonnie Scotland.
* 12 *
We caught some whales an’ boiled their blubber, Oil an’ fat chocked every scupper,
* 13 *
We’ll soon be homeward bound to Scotland, Homeward bound to Bonnie Scotland.
* 14 *
I’ll be glad when I get hame, I’ll give up this whalin’ game.
* 15 *
Oh, Hieland Laddie went a-sailin’, Oh, Hieland Laddie went a-whalin’,
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