“Where am I to go, M' Johnnies?”

Description

Shanty. "Where am I to go me Johnnies, where am I to go? To me way hey, hey, high, roll an' go. For I'm a young sailor boy, and where am I to go?" subsequent verses answer "way up the t'gallant yard," "around Cape Horn," "through the ice and snow," etc...

Notes

Gordon Bok's book _Time and the Flying Snow_ seems to imply that he learned this song from Hugill -- but his tune is slightly different, and his text also differs. Hugill's seems to be the only field collection; I don't know if Bok modified the song or if others did it before him. - RBW

References

  1. Hugill, pp. 169-170, "Where am I to go, M' Johnnies?" (1 text, 1 tune) [AbEd, p. 137]
  2. BI, Hugi169

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1961 (Hugill)
Keywords: shanty sailor travel
Found in: Britain US