070 - Sacramento (Version from German barque Gustav)

This song was sung as a capstan anchor shanty, especially when raising the "mud-hook".
A Rabelaisian German version that we sang aboard the four-masted barque Gustav. So unfortunate is that Stan Hugill did not give us more stanzas and it is the only English translation of the German origin, but refrain parts are really rare and beautiful.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 112).



Sacramento (Version from German barque Gustav)


Oh, a monk one day from his monastery went,
   - To me fal-la, to me fal-la!
His head all shaven and his gown all rent,
   - To me fal-lal, lal-lal, la!

   - Blow, boys, blow for Californio,
   - There is plenty of gold, so I am told,
   - On the banks of Sacramento.