124 - Sally Brown A (Stanley Slade version) - 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! 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, Sally Brown always sang in this fashion.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 163, 164).



Sally Brown A

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.