The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126347   Message #2864037
Posted By: Charley Noble
14-Mar-10 - 03:04 PM
Thread Name: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
Subject: RE: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
Here's one last "chantey" that I missed harvesting from Rev. Kellogg which is quite a catch:

THE ARK OF ELM ISLAND, by Rev. Elijah Kellogg, published by Lee & Shepherd, Boston, Massachusetts, US, © 1869, p. 152

John John Crow
(halyard chanty)

De cap'n's a driver, de mate is a driver,
John, John Crow is a dandy, O!
Drive her through de water, O, why don't you drive her?
JJohn, John Crow is a dandy, O!

De foam at our fore-foot, rolling white as de snow,
John, John Crow is a dandy, O!
We sail o'er de ocean, and we sing Johnny Crow,
John, John Crow is a dandy, O!

We're saucy to fight, we're nimble to fly,
John, John Crow is a dandy, O!
Like de fish in de sea, like de bird in de sky,
John, John Crow is a dandy, O!

For de Stars and de Stripes we hab fought wid de foe,
John, John Crow is a dandy, O!
Now de fighting is ober, we will sing Johnny Crow,
John, John Crow is a dandy, O!

De fair wind he blowing, nebber cloud in de sky,
John, John Crow is a dandy, O!
We sheet home de royal, and we bid you good by,
John, John Crow is a dandy, O!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble