065 - Sacramento (B)

This song was sung as a capstan anchor shanty, especially when raising the "mud-hook".
Sacramento came into been aboard the great ships of those times "Sea Witch", "Flying Cloud", "Romance of the Seas", and so on, at the time of California Gold Rush (1849). At the same time was published almost exact same song Stephen Foster's "Camptown Races", which was first is hard to say. Did foster copy his song from shanty? Colcord definitely states that this shanty is "slaver minstrel' song "Camptown Races". Terry, although he doesn't say so outright, seems to think that the shanty came first.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 108).


Sacramento B

Oh, as I was walkin' down the street
   - Hoo-dah! Hoo-dah!
A charmin' gal I chanet to meet.
   - Hoo-dah! Hoo-dah day!

   - Blow, boys, blow!
   - For Californ-eye-O!
   - There's plenty o' gold so I've bin told,
   - On the banks o' the Sacramento

            *2*
The gal was fair an sweet to view,
Her hair so brown an' her eyes so blue

            *3*
I raised me hat an' said 'How do?',
Sez she, 'Quite well, no thanks to you'

            *4*
I asked her if she take a trip
A-down the docks to see my ship

            *5*
She quickly answered, 'Oh, dear, no.
I tank you but I cannot go.

            *6*
'My love is young, my love is true,
I wouldn't leave my love for you'.

            *7*
So quickly then I strode away,
I'd not another word to say

            *8*
An' as I bade this gal adieu,
I said that gals like her were few.