ROLL THE COTTON DOWN (2)
(from the singing of Richard Maitland)
(Doerflinger - 'Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman' pp 33-34)
(to the tune of 'A Long time Ago')

Down in Alabama I was born
[Roll the cotton down]
Way done in Alabama I was born
[And I rolled the Cotton Down]

When I was young and in my prime
[Oh, roll the cotton down;]
I thought I'd go and join the Line
[And roll the cotton down]

And as a sailor caught a shine;
[roll the cotton down]
I shipped on board of the Black Ball Line;
[and roll the cotton down]

Now the Black Ball Line is the line for me;
[roll the cotton down]
That's when you want to go on a spree
[And roll the cotton down]

In the Black Ball Line you can cut a big shine;
[oh, roll the cotton down:]
For there you'll wake at any old time,
[And roll the cotton down]

Now see the Black baller prepareing for sea;
[then roll the cotton down]
You'll split your side luaghing, the sights to see,
[and roll the cotton down]

There's tinkers and tailors, shoemakers and all,
[Roll the cotton down]
They're all shanghaied on board the Black Ball
[And roll the cotton down]