SALLY BROWN
(Capstan Shanty)

Sally Brown, she's a bright mulatto –
Way-ay, roll and go!
She drinks rum and chews tobacco –
Spend my money on Sally Brown!

Sally Brown, she's a Creole Lady –
Way-ay, roll and go!
I guess she's got a nigger baby –
Spend my money on Sally Brown!

For seven years I courted Sally –
Way-ay, roll and go!
She said, "Oh boy, why do you dally?" –
Spend my money on Sally Brown!

The sweetest flower of the valley –
Way-ay, roll and go!
Is my dear girl, my pretty Sally –
Spend my money on Sally Brown!

For seven years she wouldn't marry –
Way-ay, roll and go!
I said, "I will no longer tarry" –
Spend my money on Sally Brown!

So off I sailed across the water –
Way-ay, roll and go!
And now I'm courting Sally's daughter –
Spend my money on Sally Brown!


Notes by CFS, p. 20:

It was usually sung when getting up the anchor; in Mr. Cecil Sharp's collection it is given as a hauling shanty, but I have never come across a sailor who had heard it so used. Quite possibly Mr. Sharp's informant, who was most likely a very old man, may have been mistaken, or Mr. Sharp himself, who had, comparatively speaking, no nautical knowledge, may have misunderstood him.

X:2
T:Sally Brown
C:C. Fox Smith 'A Book of Shanties' p 21
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:C
C2C2C2c B|A2G2E2G2|c4(d3c)|e3d c4|
w:Sal-ly Brown she's a bright mu-lat-to wa-ay,_ roll and go!
c2B2A2G2|E2D2E2C2|G2G2G/2 G3/2 G2|D2E2C4
w:she drinks rum and chews to-bac-co Spend my mo-ney on sal-ly brown.

Alternate last measure
A2B2c4

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