127 - Sally Brown C - Halyard Shanty


This I another "roll" shanty, the most famous "Roll an' Go!", also known as "Sally Brown". This song is a halyard 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! Stan Hugill heard this version, very popular on halyards, from "Tobago" Smith, a great West Indian shantyman.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 165).


Sally Brown C

Oh! Sally Brown she's a bright mulato,
   - WAY-ay, ay, ay, YAH!
Oh, She drinks rum an' chaws terbacco,
   - Oh, WALK along you 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.