A-Rolling Down the River (The Saucy Arabella)

DESCRIPTION: Shanty. "Arabella set her main top-s'l (x3) ... a rollin' down the river." Verses list a full-rigged ship's sails: "The Arabella set her main gans'l/main royal/main skys'l, etc." Second chorus: "Oh, a pumpkin pudden an' a bulgine pie, aboard the Arabella"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1961 (Hugill-ShantiesFromTheSevenSeas)
KEYWORDS: sailor ship shanty
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Hugill-ShantiesFromTheSevenSeas, pp. 178-179, "A-Rolling Down the River" (1 text, 1 tune) [AbrEd pp. 144-145]
Kinsey-SongsOfTheSea, pp. 142-143, "The Saucy Arabella" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #8343
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "So Early in the Morning" (tune)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Arabella
Shenandoah
Dave Crockett
NOTES [17 words]: Hugill-ShantiesFromTheSevenSeas says the tune is similar to a minstrel song "So Early in the Morning." - SL
Last updated in version 5.1
File: Hug178

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography