Sintali

DESCRIPTION: Alternate lines are a chorus, "Sintali I-yah you know." The shantyman sings: Sintali was a poor fisherman who went to sea. He couldn't get bait so he took off his penis, his leg, and other parts of his body for bait. "What a great fishing guy"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1974 (Abrahams-DeepTheWaterShallowTheShore)
KEYWORDS: poverty fishing ordeal shanty children father injury
FOUND IN: West Indies(St Vincent)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Abrahams-DeepTheWaterShallowTheShore, pp. 114-117, "Sintali" (1 text, 1 tune)
NOTES [39 words]: Abrahams quotes a blackfish whaler: "This shanty is about Sintali.... He could not get bait. But he insist that he must go fishing and get something for the children them. Have he cut off certain parts of his body, used as bait." - BS
Last updated in version 4.0
File: AWIS114

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