The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #105419   Message #4220114
Posted By: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
01-Apr-25 - 02:14 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Sloop John B.
Subject: RE: Origins: Sloop John B.
Posting in this thread for the “sheriff” &c lyrics (see above) -

“In the evening the band plays at the Colonial hotel and the resident beaux gather to dance with the pretty American girls. A favourite tune, absolutely local and of interesting origin, is “Hoist the John B. Sail.” It is very catchy. The words tell the story of a yachting party which arrived in the harbour, got on a jamboree and was hauled up before the magistrate. There was a solitary woman in the party, who begged them to hoist the John B. sail, “I'm all broke and I want to go home.” or words to that effect.”
[Circuit Chasers Find Great Glory, The Nassau Guardian, (NP) 16 March 1907, p.1]

New player: The above seems a bit too light-hearted and I can't imagine addressing a Nassau Stipendary and Circuit Magistrate as “mister” but… there was a Robert Stuart Johnstone. An island tree frog even got itself named after him (E. Johnstonei.)

Then again, the 1903 Prouty lyrics might have it as 'Mr. Hambone' for all we know at present.