153 - Rolling King - Capstan Shanty

"Rolling King" sometimes called "South Australia", is usually sung at capstan (anchor) and pumps. This shanty was probably born on the emigrant days when thousands traveled by sailing ship to Semaphore Roads, Port Adelaide, South Australia. We can find this song in the most significant shanty collections books such as L. A. Smith, Miss Colcord, or William Doerflinger.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 193).


Rolling King


South Australia is me home,
   - Heave away! Heave away!
South Australia is me home,
   - An' we're bound for south Australia!

   - Heave away! Heave away!
   - Heave away you Rolling King
   - An' we're bound for south Australia!

         *2*
My wife is stadin' on the quay,
The tears do start as she waves to me,

         *3*
An' when I'm on a foreign shore,
I'll think o' me darlin' that I adore.

         *4*
There ain't but one thing grieves me mind,
To leave my wife an' child bechind.

         *5*
There ain't but one thing grieves me
An' that's me wife an' dear ba-bee.

         *6*
An' as I stand on a foreign shore,
I'll drink to the wife that I adore.

         *7*
Now I'm on a foreign strand,
With a glass o' pisco in me hand.

         *8*
I'll drink a glass to my own shore,
I'll drink to the gal that I adore.

         *9*
I'll tell ye now, it ain't no lie,
I'll love that gal until I die.

         *10*
This cross ye see at the bottom of the line,
Is only to keep ye in my mind.

         *11*
Now we're homeward bound again,
I'll soon be seeing Sarah Jane.

         *12*
Oh, fare-ye-well, now fare-ye-well,
Oh, fare-ye-well, I wish ye well.