William S. Hays was a white man who wrote for the minstrels, but he did know something about the steamboats. One of his best songs describes loading the cotton as it was done along the river. The steamboat would work its way close to the bank, at a spot where the water was safe enough, and the slaves and rousters would load by means of planks laid to the boat.

Lyr. Add: ROLL OUT! HEAVE DAT COTTON

I hear dat bell a-ringin',
I see de Captain stand,
Boat done blowed her whistle,
I know she's gwine to land;
I hear de mate a callin'
"Go git out de plank,
Rush out wid de head line,
And tie her to de bank."

Chorus
Roll out! Heave dat cotton,
Roll out! heave dat cotton,
Roll out! Heave dat cotton,
Ain't got long to stay.

It's early in de mornin'
Before we see de sun,
"Roll aboard dat cotton,
An' git back in a run,"
De Captain's in a hurry,
I know what he means,
Wants to beat de Sherlock,
Down to New Orleans.

I hear dat mate a shoutin',
An' see him on de shore,
"Hurry boys! Be lively,
Ain't but fifty more;
We ain't got time to tarry
Here at dis Cotton pile,
We gwine to git another,
Below here forty mile."

We done took on de cotton,
Shove out from de shore,
Sailin' down de river,
We gwine to land for more,
When you hear de whistle,
An' de big bell ring,
We gwine to land for cotton,
Roll out, boys, an' sing.

1877, William S. Hays. Lyrics and midi at Roll Out!
Published by J. E. Ditson and Co., Philadelphia. Sheet music at American Memory.

The first boat(s) in to the port city would get the cotton taken up by buyers and perhaps earn a bonus. Later boats might have to wait for buyers or have to take a lower price; the consigner would be unhappy. Moreover, the quicker the boat could return up river, the quicker new cargo could be taken on and contracts filled.

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