But we never did get a transcription of the Pete Seeger recording, which certainly seems to be a sea chantey. I couldn't find the Pete Seeger version in a book, so here's what I hear:

Oh Louisiana
(as sung by Pete Seeger)

A mountain so high and a valley so low,
Oh, Louisiana,
Louisiana my darling, my Jane and Susanna,
I'm bound over the mountain.

Oh, the anchor she's weighed, and the sails they are set,
Oh, Louisiana,
Louisiana my darling, my Jane and Susanna,
I'm bound over the mountain.

The girls that we're leaving we'll never forget,
Oh, Louisiana,
Louisiana my darling, my Jane and Susanna,
I'm bound over the mountain.

Oh, soon we'll be rolling her over the bay,
Oh, Louisiana,
Louisiana my darling, my Jane and Susanna,
I'm bound over the mountain.

Goodbye to Sally and goodbye to Sue,
Oh, Louisiana,
Louisiana my darling, my Jane and Susanna,
I'm bound over the mountain.

You that are listening, goodbye to you,
Oh, Louisiana,
Louisiana my darling, my Jane and Susanna,
I'm bound over the mountain.


Seeger says he can't quite figure why a sailor song says "I'm bound over the mountain." He keeps being tempted to sing, "I'm bound over the ocean."


The recording is very clear, so it may be likely I didn't make any mistakes in transcription.
-Joe-
transcribed by ear from the Pete Seeger We Shall Overcome concert album.