106 - Roll The Old Chariot - Stamp And Go Shanty


This song is one of the most popular "stamp-n-go" shanties. William Main Doerflinger in his "Shantymen and Shantyboys" (1951), says that it is based on the words of Salvation Army revivalist hymn and that the tune is a Scottish reel. It seems without any doubt that the shanty is of Negro origin.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 151 ).



Roll The Old Chariot


Oh, a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm,
Oh, a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm,
Oh, a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm,
And we'll all hang on behind!
   - So we'll ... ro-o-oll the old chariot along!
   - And we'll roll the golden chariot along!
   - Oh, we'll ro-o-oll the old chariot along!
   - An' we'll all hang on behind!

                      *2*
Oh, a plate of Irish stew wouldn't do us any harm,
Oh, a plate of Irish stew wouldn't do us any harm,
Oh, a plate of Irish stew wouldn't do us any harm,
And we'll all...

                     *3*
Oh, a nice fat cook wouldn't do us any harm.

                     *4*
Oh, roll in the clover wouldn't do us any harm.

                     *5*
Oh, a long spell in goal wouldn't do us any harm.

                     *6*
Oh, a nice watch below wouldn't do us any harm.

                     *7*
Oh, a night with the gals wouldn't do us any harm.