“Sister Seusan”

Description

"Sister Sue and my (Aunt/gal) Sal, Gwine to git a home bime by-high. All gwine to lib down shin-bone al; Gwine to git a home bime by." Various verses on working, sailing, complaints. Noted as a Barbadian hand over hand.

Notes

Bullen transcribed this shanty, and described the time he first heard it in his book _The Log of a Sea Waif._ He also included it later included in his collection _Songs of Sea Labor._ Hugill mentions that "Shinbone Alley" is a place name often referred to in American Negro songs. - SL

References

  1. Harlow, pp. 200-201, "Gwine to Git a Home Bime By" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Hugill, pp. 390-391 "Sister Susan" (1 text, tune) [AbEd, p. 299]
  3. BI, Hugi390

About

Alternate titles: “Shinbone Al”
Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1899 (Bullen, _The Log of a Sea Waif_)
Keywords: worksong shanty
Found in: US West Indies