29 - Walk Me Along, Johnny - (WITH PRESENTATION)

The origin of this shanty it is West Indian, and it is probably stemmed from a slave song. Chas. Nordhoff in his "The Merchant Vessel" gives us a similar song as a cotton Stowers' chant, but fits the words the tune must have been slightly different. Stan Hugill gives this song the halyard shanty.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 78).


Way Stormalong, John

Stormy he is dead an'gone,
   - WALK me along Johnny, CARry me along!
Stormy he is dead an'gone,
   - CARry me to the BURyin' ground,

   - Then away ay-ay-ay-ay O Storm an' Blow,
   - WALK me along Johnny, CARry me along!
   - Way ay-ay-ay-ay O Storm an' Blow,
   - CARry me to the BURyin' ground,

                      *2*
We dug his grave with a silver spade
His shroud o' finest silk wuz made

                      *3*
Oh, ye who dig Ol' Stormy's grave,
Dig it deep an' make it safe

                      *4*
Oh, lower him down with a golden chain,
Make sure that he don' rise again.

                      *5*
Oh, General Tailor died long ago,
He's gone, me boys, where the winds don's blow.

                      *6*
He died on the field of ol' Monterey,
An' Santiana he gained the day.

                      *7*
Dan O'Connell he died long ago,
Dan he was an Irish boy-O

                      *8*
We'll haul, me boys an' wake the dead
Let,s stow him in his little bed.