You come across the American expression "go down" now and then - e.g. "Go down you blood red roses." Now, I'm content that I have an explanation for the blood red roses, but what exactly does the exhortation to "go down" mean? (And can we leave Clinton/Lewinsky well out of it?) Sometimes, as in this shanty, it seems to be an encouragement to work harder, while sometimes ("Go down Hannah, don't you rise no more") it doesn't.