110 - Roll The Cotton Down ( C ) - Halyard Shanty Here halyard version of the shanty "Roll the cotton down C", 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 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". "Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 154, 155 ). 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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