Was there ever a real Sloop John B? Did the first mate really get drunk and break the captains trunk? was there ever a real John Stone? Why wouldn’t he leave the sailor alone?
Some data:
from http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Folk-rock
Public Domain song from the 1800’s
JOHN B. SAILS
This traditional folk tune was included in Carl Sandburg’s collection of 280 folk songs published in his book “The American Songbag” (1927). The Weavers adapted and arraigned the song found in the book and first recorded it as “The Wreck of the ‘John B’.” The Beach Boys further tweaked it and changed the title to “Sloop John B” in 1966 that was included in their “Pet Sounds” album. It climbed to #3 in the charts.
Dorin & Dunn’s duet (wav 370KB) from TNOT Raven
We come on the sloop John B
My grandfather and me
Around Nassau town we did roam
Drinking all night
Got into a fight
Well I feel so broke up
I want to go home
So hoist up the John B’s sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, I wanna go home,
Well I feel so broke up
I wanna go home
The first mate he got drunk
And broke in the Captain’s trunk
The constable had to come and take him away
Sheriff John Stone
Why don’t you leave me alone, leave me alone
Well I feel so broke up I wanna go home
So hoist up the John B’s sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, let me go home
Why don’t you let me go home
(Hoist up the John B’s sail)
Hoist up the John B
I feel so broke up I wanna go home
Let me go home
The poor cook he caught the fits
And threw away all my grits
And then he took and he ate up all of my corn
Let me go home
Why don’t they let me go home
This is the worst trip I’ve ever been on
So hoist up the John B’s sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, let me go home
Why don’t you let me go home
**
So to answer your question no one knows. **
Jim
Peter Morris
Hey look - some guy gets drunk - disturbing the peace and breaking and entering the Captain’s trunk - I haul him away and all of a sudden I’m the bad guy?
Why didn’t someone write a song and tell my side of the story?
Sincerely,
John Stone, Sheriff, Nassau town
What Exit?, you should be aware that posting complete lyrics is frowned on here, due to copyright issues. It is acceptable to post a short excerpt from a song and/or a link to another site which has the complete lyrics.
I think you missed the Public Domain part. I listed it above, but thank you for your vigilance.
The song and lyrics are Traditional, not the Beach Boys version.
Jim