Recorded Shanties

Interesting Facts about Lower The Boat Down

Here halyard version of the shanty “Roll the cotton down”, described by Joanna C. Colcord in her “Roll And Go – Songs Of The American Sailormen” (1924), “Lower The Boat Down”. Joanna Colcord claims this song has Negro origin, and is almost the same as a version (C) from Stan Hugill’s book, without a grand chorus. Miss Colcord claims the words are very likely borrowed from shanty “Rolling King”, However, Stan Hugill is closer to the theory that words are from “South Australia”. To make the case even more complicated, Cecil Sharp gives similar words in his version of “One More Day”.

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 159). The first stanza comes from “Shanties From The Seven Seas”, and the second from Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk-Chanteys”. (1914).

The Record of the Lower The Boat Down

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

Lower The Boat Down

There’s only one thing grives me,
– Oh, lower the boat down!
It’s my poor wife and bayby,
– Oh, lower the boat down!

* 2 *

I’m bound away to leave you
Don’t let my parting grieve you

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Interesting Facts about Roll The Cotton Down (F)

Here halyard version of the shanty “Roll the cotton down”, Roll The Cotton Down (F) 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 an “A Long Time Ago” version theme version. The book example suggests using more verses from “Blow the Man Down” shanty, I add additional five verses which gives us a reasonable length of the song.

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 156 ).

The Record of the Roll The Cotton Down (F)

“Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 155 ).

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 (F)

Oh, a long, long time an’ a very long time,
– Roll the cotton down!
Oh, a long, long time an’ a very long time,
– We’ll roll the cotton down!

* 2 *

Oh, there ships they lay in Frisco Bay,
There ships they lay in Frisco Bay,

* 3 *

An’ the smartest o’ these was an ol’ Yankie,
An’ the smartest o’ these was an ol’ Yankie,

* 4 *

These smart Yankee packets lay out in the Bay,
All a-waiting a fair wind to get under way,

* 5 *

With all their poor sailors so weak an’ so sad,
They’d drunk all their limejuice, no more could be had.

* 6 *

With all their poor sailors so sick an’ so sore,
They’d scoffed all their whack an’ they couldn’t get more.

* 7 *

Oh, I sailed out of ‘Frisco in a full rigged ship,
I sailed out o’ ‘Frisco in a full-rigged ship.

* 8 *

Her masts wuz of silver an’ her yards wuz of gold,
Her masts wuz of silver an’ her yards wuz of gold.

* 9 *

We wuz bound for New York with a cargo o’ gold,
Bound south ’round the Horn through the ice an’ the cold.

* 10 *

In eighteen hundred and ninety-four,
We shipped in a drogher bound for Singapore.

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Interesting Facts about Roll The Cotton Down (E)

Here halyard version of the shanty “Roll the cotton down” including Roll The Cotton Down (E) version, opens a big family of the 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 “Paddy and the Railway” version theme version. The book example suggests using more verses from “Blow the Man Down” shanty, I add an additional five verses which gives us a reasonable length of the song.

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 155 ).

The Record of the Roll The Cotton Down (E)

“Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 155 ).

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 (E)

Oh! in eighteen hundred an’ seventy-one,
– Roll the cotton down!
I did what many other have done.
– We’ll roll the cotton down!

* 2 *

I shipped away across the sea,
I shipped away to Amerikee.

* 3 *

In eighteen hundred and seventy-two,
I shipped away with an Irish crew.

* 4 *

In eighteen hundred an’ seventy-three,
I sailed away across the sea

* 5 *

In eighteen hundred an’ seventy-four,
I landed on Columbia’s shore

* 6 *

In eighteen hundred an’ seventy-five,
Still Dan O’Connel he wuz alive

* 7 *

In eighteen hundred an’ seventy-six,
Me drink no longer I could mix

* 8 *

In eighteen hundred an’ seventy-seven,
Me children number jist eleven

* 9 *

In eighteen hundred an’ seventy-eight,
I made a fortune, not to late

* 10 *

In eighteen hundred an’ seventy-nine,
I for a sight of Home did pine

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Interesting Facts about Roll The Cotton Down (D)

Here halyard version of the shanty “Roll the cotton down”, Roll The Cotton Down (D) 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 “Blackball” version theme version. The book example suggests using more verses from “Blow the Man Down” Shanty, I add an additional five verses which give us a reasonable length of the song.

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 155 ).

The Record of the Roll The Cotton Down (D)

“Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 155 ).

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 (D)

Oh! when I was a young man in me prime,
– Roll the cotton down!
I thought I’d ship in the Blackball Line.
– We’ll roll the cotton down!

* 2 *

In the Blackball Line, oh, ye kin shine,
For the ye’ll wake at any old time.

* 3 *

It’s when a Blackballer is bound for sea,
‘Tis then ye’ll see such a hell o’ spree.

* 4 *

There’s tinkers an’ wharf rats, shoemakers an’ all,
All shipped as prime sailorman aboard the Blackball,

* 5 *

Oh, muster ye sojers an’ fakirs an’sich,
An’ hear yer name called by a son-o’-a’bitch.

* 6 *

An’ when the Blackballer hauls out o’ the dock,
To see these poor bastards, how on deck they flock.

* 7 *

‘Lay aft here ye, lubbers! Lay aft one an’ all,
I’ll have none o’ yer dodgers aboard Blackball!”

* 8 *

Now see these poor bastards how aloft they will scoot,
Assisted along by the toe o’ boot.

* 9 *

The second mate stands ’em all up in a row,
A seam in the deck he sure makes ’em all toe.

* 10 *

It’s ‘Fore tawps’l halyards!’ the mate he will roar,
‘Oh, lay along smatly, ye son-o’-a-whore!’

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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!

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Interesting Facts about Roll The Cotton Down (B)

A very popular halyard shanty “Roll the cotton down” including Roll The Cotton Down (B) opens a big family of the 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 “Cotton-Stowers’ version” theme version.

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 153).

The Record of the Roll The Cotton Down (B)

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 (B)

Come rock an’ roll me over,
– Oh, ROLL the cotton DOWN!
Let,s get this damned job over,
– Oh, ROLL the cotton DOWN!

* 2 *

Was ye ever down in Mobile Bay,
Screwin’ cotton by the day?

* 3 *

Oh, a black man’s pay is rather low,
To stow the cotton we must go.

* 4 *

Oh, a white man’s pay is rather high,
Rock an’ shake ‘er is the cry.

* 5 *

Oh, so early in the mornin’, boys,
Oh, afore the day is dawnin’, boys.

* 6 *

Five dollars a day is a white man’s pay,
So bring yer screws an’ hooks this way.

* 7 *

And bring yer sampson posts likewise,
Oh, bear a hand, get a curve on, boys.

* 8 *

We’ll floor her off from fore to aft,
There five thousand bales for this ‘ere ceraft.

* 9 *

Lift her up an’ carry her along,
Screw her down where she belongs.

* 10 *

Oh, tier by tier we’ll stow ’em neat,
Until the job is made complete.

* 11 *

Oh, Mobile Bay’s no place for me,
I’ll pack me bags an’ go to sea

* 12 *

We’ll screw him up so handsomely,
And roll him over cheerily.

* 13 *

A white man’s pay is rather high,
An’ a black man’s pay is rather low.

* 14 *

Oh, come hither, all you slaver boys,
An’ come hither, all you bigger boys.

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Interesting Facts about Roll The Cotton Down (A)

A very popular halyard shanty “Roll the cotton down” including Roll The Cotton Down (A) opens a big family of the 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. At Tops’l halyard, it was a hardy perennial, although it suited t’gallant halyards it was a hardy perennial, although it suited t’gallant halyards even more so, being of a fairly lively march time.
This version is a “Negro” theme version.

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 152, 153 ).

The Record of the Roll The Cotton Down (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

Roll The Cotton Down (A)

Oooh, roll the cotton down, me boys,
– R0LL the cotton DOWN!
Oh, roll the cotton down, me boys,
– Oh, R0LL the cotton DOWN!

* 2 *

I,m goin’ down to Alabam,
To roll the cotton down, me boys,

* 3 *

When I lived down south in Tennessee,
My old Massa, oh, he said to me.

* 4 *

Oh, the slaver works for the white man boss,
He’s the one who rides on the big white hoss.

* 5 *

If the sun don’ shine, then the hens don’lay,
If the slaver won’t work, then the boss won’t pay.

* 6 *

Away down south where I was born,
I worked in the cotton and the corn.

* 7 *

Oh the slaver works the whole day long,
The Camptown ladies sing this song.

* 8 *

When I was young before the war,
Times were gay on the Mississippi shore.

* 9 *

When work was over at the close of day,
‘Tis then you’d hear the banjo play.

* 10 *

While the darkies would sit around the door,
And the piccanninies played upon the floor.

* 11 *

But since the war there’s been a change,
To the darkey everything seems strange.

* 12 *

No more you’ll hear the banjo play,
For the good ol’ times have passed away.

* 13 *

And now we’re off to New Orleans,
To that land of Slaver Queens

* 14 *

Oh, in Alabama where I was born
A-screwin cotton of a summer’s morn.

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