110 - Roll The Cotton Down ( C ) - Halyard Shanty


Here halyard version of the shanty "Roll the cotton down C", opens a big family of the shanties, which Stan Hugill describes as the shanty with the word 'Roll'. As a matter of fact, it vies with 'blow' and 'hilo' as the most popular word in a sailor work-song.
The versions of this great shanty are:
(a) Negro Version
(b) Cotton-Stowers' version
(c) Deep-sea version.
(d) Blackball version.
(e) Paddy and the railway.
(f) "A Long Time Ago"
This version is a "Deep-sea" version theme version. Because Stan Hugill gives us on page 155 the beautiful set of "Halyard only" stanzas, I also think is necessary to sing them, so here is the halyard variation of "Roll the cotton down C".
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 154, 155 ).



Roll The Cotton Down ( C )


Oh! away down south where I wuz born,
   - Roll the cotton down!
Oh! away down south around Cape Horn
   - We'll roll the cotton down!

                            *2*
Oh! away down south around Cape Horn
Oh, we wisht to Christ we'd niver bin born!

                           *3*
Oh! away down south one winter's morn,
Oh! away down south around Cape Horn.

                           *4*
We're bound away to Mobile Bay,
We're bound away at the break o' day.

                           *5*
Oh, around Cape Horn we're bound to go,
Around Cape Stiff midst the ice an' snow.

                           *6*
Oh, 'Frisco town is far behind,
An' the gals down south are free an' kind.

                           *7*
Oh, fare-ye-well we're bound to go,
Never let it be said we'll forget you.


"From here onward the verses are halyard ones only"


                           *8*
So stretch it aft an' start a song,
A bloody fine song and it won't take long.

                           *9*
Oh, stretch yer backs an' haul away,
An' make yer port an' take yer pay.

                           *10*
I'll sing ye a song if ye'll git me some gin,
That'll bouse this block right down to the pin.

                           *11*
Oh, rock 'n' shake 'er is the cry,
The bloody topm'st sheave is dry.

                           *12*
Oh, haul away when she takes the next roll,
Why don't the Mate shake 'er, oh, Gawd blast his soul.

                           *13*
Oh, I wist Jonny Slite would keep his luff,
The bastard thinks we've hauled enough.

                           *14*
Oh, sweat that yard the Mate do say.
Give one more pull, lads, then belay!