122 - Sally Brown A - Capstan Shanty


This I another "roll" shanty, the most famous "Roll an' Go!", also known as "Sally Brown". This song is a capstan shanty, as Stan Hugill mention it is only one theme of this song, and it is - all about Sally and her daughter. As an author of "Shanties from The Seven Seas" mentioned - there existed many obscene verses, which accounts partly for the fact that popularity never waned! Worth mention is the fact the most of the verses Stan Hugill has from my favored shantyman (due to his yelps), Harding Barabadaian the West Indian Seamen.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 162).


Sally Brown A

Ooh! Sally Brown she's a bright mulatter,
   - Way-hay, Roll an' go!
She drinks rum an' chaws terbacker,
   - Spend my money on Sally Brown!

                     *2*
Sally lives on the old plantation,
She is daughter of the Wild Goose Nation.

                     *3*
Seven long years I courted Sally,
But all she did was dilly-dally,

                     *4*
Sally Brown's a big buck creole,
Her bow is big, but her starn is bigger.

                     *5*
I brought her growns an' I bought 'er laces,
Took her out to all the places.

                     *6*
Sally's teeth are white an' pearly,
Her eyes are black an' her hair is curly.

                     *7*
Sally lives in ol' Jamaica,
Sellin' rum an' grown' terbacker

                     *8*
I call her my ol, Queen of Faces,
Bought her coral beads an' laces.

                     *9*
The sweetest flower in the valley,
Is my own my pretty Sally.

                   *10*
Sally Brown, what is the matter?
Pretty gal, but can't git at her.

                     *11*
Sally Brown, I love ye dearly,
Ye had me heart, or very nearly.

                     *12*
Sally Brown's a wild ol' lady,
Sally's got a creole baby

                     *13*
Sally Brown she wouldn't marry,
An' I no longer cared to tarry.

                     *14*
Sally Brown, I love yer daughter,
I love Yer farm beside the water.

                     *15*
Sally Brown, I kissed yer daughter,
Stopped her rum an' gave her water.

                     *16*
She wouldn't have a tarry sailor,
So I shipped away in a New Bedford whaler.

                     *17*
Sally Brown, I took a notion,
To sail across the flamin' ocean.

                     *18*
I shipped away in a New Bedford whaler,
When I got back she wuz courtin' a tailor.

                     *19*
Now me troubles they are over,
Sally's married to a creol solider.

                     *20*
He beat her up an' stole her money,
Then left her with a creol baby.

                     *21*
Sally Brown, I'm bound ter leave yer,
Sally Brown, I'll not deceive yer.