Claude emailed me an mp3 file from which I transcribed this. There are still a few lines that don't quite make sense to me, and I suspect they may be wrong. I have marked them with "(?)". I would appreciate any corrections or explanations.


QUEEN MARY
Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter)

[SPOKEN:] Now ladies and gentlemen, this is a song I made about the Queen Mary when it first made up to come over to New York – and a brand-new ship and a brand-new captain – and just before the ship left the land, when everybody's on board – the people would go on the boat cryin' an' shoutin' an' happy 'cause they's on a brand-new ship and comin' the first trip to New York City. And here's what they began to sing:

[SUNG:] Move on, Queen Mary, move on.
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.
Queen Mary forgot its load. (?)
Captain says: "They's all aboard."
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.

When Queen Mary left the land,
At New York City 'twas on a stand. (?)
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.
When Queen Mary left the land,
At New York City 'twas on a stand. (?)
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.

[SPOKEN:] Now just as when Queen Mary got to the dock I saw something—a policeman. I went down to see what was happening down there, but I wouldn't go the way the policeman going.

[SUNG:] Queen Mary got to the dock.
I seen the policemen doing the eagle rock.
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.
Queen Mary got to the dock.
I seen the policemen doing the eagle rock.
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.

[SPOKEN:] When I got down there, the people were goin' out there shoutin' an' hollerin'.

[SUNG:] Move on, Queen Mary, move on.
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.
Queen Mary got to the dock.
I seen the policemen doing the eagle rock.
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.

[SPOKEN:] So I goes on down there to see Queen Mary. They charge everybody a dollar to go and look all over the boat, ladies and gentlemen. So I paid a dollar to lose my pass. I got halfway, here's what the man told me:

[SUNG:] Went to see Queen Mary and I lose my pass.
Captain says: "I hope you will last." (?)
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.
Went to see Queen Mary and I lose my pass.
Captain says: "I hope you will last." (?)
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.

[SPOKEN:] Everybody is goin' aboard shoutin' and hollerin'.

[SUNG:] Move on, Queen Mary, move on.
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.
When I see Queen Mary and I lose my pass.
Captain says: "I hope you will last." (?)
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.

[SPOKEN:] Now Jack Johnson was fixin' to leave New York City back over where he first came from. Jack Johnson wanted to get on board, the big shot in town.
When he went and got about halfway, the man waved his hand at him.

[SUNG:] Jack Johnson wanted to get on board
Captain said: "I ain't haulin' no coal."
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.
Jack Johnson wanted to get on board.
Captain said: "I ain't haulin' no coal."
Move on, Queen Mary, move on.