“Mobile Bay”
Description
Shanty. "From Liverpool Town we sailed away - CH: John come tell us as we haul away. Outward bound at the break of day - CH. Aye, aye, haul aye - CH." Several verses refer to Mobile Bay and to women. Probably started as a Negro cotton stowing song.
Notes
Hugill explains that this was one of a very few shanties that would use two singers for the solo lines, alternating verses. - SL
Cross references
- cf. "Stow'n' Sugar in de Hull Below" (some verses)
References
- Colcord, p. 118, "Mobile Bay" (1 short text, 1 tune)
- Harlow, pp. 86-87, "Mobile Bay" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Hugill, pp. 287-288, "John, Come Tell Us As We Haul Away" (1 text, 1 tune) [AbEd, pp. 210-211]
- Roud #4696
- BI, Hugi287