Menhaden chanteys were sung by the fisherman on the purse boats as they hardened the net, pulling the menhaden to the surface where they could be scooped by a dip net and deposited in the ship's hold. These songs included spirituals, such as "Drinking of the Wine," Afro-American ballads such as "Lazarus," and randomly sung traditional verses, as in "Every Mail Day." X:1 T:EVERY MAIL DAY M:2/4 L:1/8 K:F z F, G,A, | B,4 | D z3 | D2 B,2 | D2 D2 | B,2 B,2 | z F, G,A, | B,4 | D z3 | D2 B,2 | D2 D2 | B,2 B,2 | z F,/F,/ G,A, | B,4 | D z3| D4 | HB, F,G, B, | B,4 || w: If I can row (yeah) Row a few days long er If I can row (yeah) Row a few days long er Then I'm goin' back home (boy) Oh lord, I'm goin' back home. W: W:If I can row (yeah) Oh Evaline, W:Row a few days longer She's got money 'cumulatin' W:If I can row (yeah) Oh Evaline, W:Row a few days longer She's got money 'cumulatin'. W:Then I'm goin' back home (boy) I love that girl (boy) W:Oh Lord, I'm goin' back home. Lord, Lord, I love that girl. W: W:Well every mail day Oh Jack o'Diamonds W:Mail day, I gets a letter. Layin' right there on the bottom W:Well every mail day Oh Jack o'Diamonds W:Mail day, I gets a letter. Layin' right there on the bottom W:Sayin' daddy come home (boy) Well who gonna raise him? W:Lord, Lord, daddy come home. Lord, Lord, who gonna raise? W: W:I would go home (boy) If I can row (yeah) W:I ain't got no ready made money. Row (yeah) a few days longer. W:I would go home (boy) If I can row (yeah) W:I ain't got no ready made money Row (yeah) a few days longer. W:To pay my way (boy) Then I'm goin' back home (boy) W:Oh Lord, to pay my way. Lord, Lord, I'm goin' back home. To create a score, and a MIDI version, copy the abc notation above, and paste in Tune-O-Tron
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