From the docks of New Orleans comes Sugar in the Hold, a cargo loading work song. It's been in the repertoire of Seattle shanty singing crowd ever since William's old singing partner Marc Bridgham introduced it there years ago. A more traditional version can be found on the Victory Sings at Sea recording, The Curse of the Somers. We like to do this in coffeehouses and get people to pile up those little packets of sugar pretending they're hundred pound sacks.
lyrics
Sugar in the Hold
traditional arranged by Pint and Dale
Well, I wish I was in Mobile Bay
Screwing cotton all the day
But I'm stowin' sugar in the hold below
Below, below, below
Hey ho below below
Stowin' sugar in the hold below
Hey ho below below
Stowin' sugar in the hold below
The J.M. White is a new boat
Stem to stern she's mighty fine
Beat any boat on the Orleans Line
Stowin sugar in the hold below
Now the engineer shouts through his trumpet
Tells the mate he's got bad news
Can't get any steam for the fire in the flue
Stowin' sugar in the hold below
The Captain stands on the quarterdeck
Scratchin' way at his old neck
And he says "Now heave the larboard lead"
Stowin' sugar in the hold below
So, I wish I was in Mobile Bay
Screwing cotton all the day
But I'm stowin' sugar in the hold below
Below, below, below
credits
from Round the Corner,
released January 1, 1997
John Peekstok: Keyboards
Curtis Lloyd: Kit Drums
David Pascal: bass guitar
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