Gibb-

Have you run across this stevedore song from Guyana?

Traditional stevedore song from Demerara, British Guiana, 1969.
Collected and transcribed by Frank T. Bullen (1857-1915) as published in THE LOG OF A SEA-WAIF, published by D. Appleton & Company, New York, US, © 1899, pp. 33-34.

Gwineter Git a Home Bimeby


Sis-ter Susan, my Aunt Sal,
Gwineter git a home bime-by – High!
All gwineter lib down Shin Bone Al,
Gwineter git a home bime-by.

Chorus:

Gwineter git a home bime-by – High!
Gwineter git a home bime-by;
Gwineter git a home bime-by – High!
Gwineter git a home bime-by.

Notes:

Bullen provides a vivid description of the stevedores at work aboard the Arabella.:

"Streaming with sweat, throwing their bodies about in sheer wantonness of exuberant strength as they hoisted the stuff out of the hold, they sometimes grew so excited by the improvisations of the 'chantey man,' who sat on the corner of the hatch, solely employed in leading the singing, that often, while for a minute awaiting the next hoist, they would fling themselves into fantastic contortions, keeping time to the music."

"Bimeby" is a common name, as evidenced by its appearance in many African-American folk tales but can also mean "quickly" as it does here.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble