068 - Banks Of Sacramento (Patterson Capstan version)

EN
This song was sung as a capstan anchor shanty, especially when raising the "mud-hook".
Patterson's version is like Patterson's shanties, unusual. The first difficulty is that Patterson in his book doesn't give us music. In almost every his shanty he inserts short refrains where usually no refrain existed. Stan Hugill says that Patterson called his shanty 'hauling song', and gives us one stanza, but is not entirely true, because Patterson (J. E. Patterson "The Sea's Anthology" 1913) labeled this song as 'Capstan.' and give three verses, and after these three verses, he gives another 4 verses under the label "The same: as a hauling chanty'". So this song will be 'Capstan.' Hauling version I will sing separately.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 112).



Banks Of Sacramento (Patterson Capstain version)


Now, my lads, get your beds and lie down
   - To me hoodah! To me hoodah!
Now, my lads, get your beds and lie down
   - To me hoodah, hoodah, O!

   - Blow, my bully-boys, blow,
   - For Californi-O !
   - There's plenty of gold,
   - So I've been told,
   - On the banks of Sacramento!

               *2*
In the Black Ball Line I served my time
In the Black Ball Line I served my time!

               *3*
O that was the line for cracking it on
O that was the line for cracking it on