123 - Sally Brown A2 - Capstan Shanty


This I another "roll" shanty, the most famous "Roll an' Go!", also known as "Sally Brown". This song is a capstan shanty, as Stan Hugill mention it is only one theme of 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 mention is the fact the most of the verses Stan Hugill has from my favored shantyman (due to his yelps), Harding Barabadaian the West Indian Seamen.
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.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 163).


Sally Brown A

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.