“Johnny Boker (I)”

Description

Shanty. Characteristic line: " Do, my Johnny Boker (Booker/Poker), do!" Often with lyrics about the sailor's girl (Sally) or about the abuse inflicted by the Captain.

Notes

A blackface piece of the same name is also known, and is felt by some to be the original, but the relationship between the two is difficult to determine precisely. - RBW

Recordings

• Capt. Leighton Robinson, "Johnny Boker" (AFS, 1951; on LC26)

References

1. Doerflinger, p. 9, "Johnny Boker" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Colcord, p. 44, "Johnny Boker" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Harlow, pp. 97-98, "Johnny Boker" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Hugill, pp. 289-290, "Johnny Bowker" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Sharp-EFC, XL, p. 45, "Johnny Bowker" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Linscott, p. 141, "Johnny Boker" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
7. Greenleaf/Mansfield 168, "Jolly Poker" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
8. Shay-SeaSongs, p. 28, "Johnny Boker" (1 short text, 1 tune)
9. Silber-FSWB, p. 86, "Johnny Boker" (1 text)
10. DT, JONBOKER*
11. Captain John Robinson, "Songs of the Chantey Man," a series published July-August 1917 in the periodical _The Bellman_ (Minneapolis, MN, 1906-1919). "Johnny Boker" is in Part 1, 7/14/1917.
12. Roud #353
13. BI, Doe009a