Every once in a while we sing Sam's Gone Away at our local shanty sing (D.C. Area). I think it would be a great camp song and would like to learn more about it. None of my shanty books have it (and I have a few Hugill, Doerflinger, Colcord, Huntington, Creighton, ...).

Does anyone know the origins of this song? Is it traditional, modern ??? The version in the DT just has the singer calling out different occupations. Is it sung differently in different places? For reference the DT lyrics are:

SAM'S GONE AWAY

I wish I was a cabin boy, aboard a man o'war!

Sam's gone away, aboard a man o'war!
Pretty work, brave boys,
Pretty work, I say!
Sam's gone away, aboard a man o'war!

I wish I was the captain, aboard a man o'war!

I wish I was the bos'n, aboard a man o'war!

I wish I was a gunner, aboard a man o'war!

You'll never be a hero, aboard a man o'war!

@sailor
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