ROLL ON MANATEE
© 1986, words and music by Jim Ballew
Roll on, roll on, manatee
Take my soul with you out to sea
You can see them near the shore
They keep our rivers clean
Guardian of our waters,
This creature so serene
Along the shallow shorelines
onto to the crystal springs
They surely must be numbered
Among our precious things
ooooh, ooh, oohh
Spanish soldiers in the sun
Roll on, manatee
Life and death flow on as one
Roll on, manatee
They were here before Menendez
Built old St. Augustine
and Long before the
Indian Nations reigned supreme
Sailors thought them mermaids
As they watched them nurse their young
We must preserve this creature,
Their song is almost sung
ooooh, ooh, oohh
I ’m standing in the failing light
Roll on, manatee
Watching they’re nocturnal flight
Roll on, manatee
You can see them near the shore
only grasses do they glean
They’re Guardians of our waters
This mammal so serene
Protect our estuaries
Help save the manatee
And Like the sacred mangroves
We’ll hand in hand walk to the sea
Roll on, roll on, Roll on
***
ROLLING HOME TO CALEDONIA
The song has its roots in a poem by Scots poet & songwriter, Charles Mackay. His journal says it was written “on board the Europa, homeward bound,
26 May 1858".
Call all hands to man the capstan
See the cable running clear
Heave away then with a will boys
To our homeland we will steer
[Chorus]
Rolling home, rolling home
Rolling home across the sea
Rolling home to Caledonia
Rolling home dear land to thee
Round Cape Horn one frosty morning
And our sails were full of snow
Clear your sheets and sway your halyards
Swing her out and let her go
Up aloft among the rigging
blows a wild and rushing gale
Like a monsoon in the springtime
filling out each well-known sail
[Chorus]
And the girl you loved so dearly
She’ll be constant, kind and true
As you press her to your bosom,
all your fondest vows renew
Fare thee wеll you Spanish ladies
For we know must bid adieu
Happy times we spent together
Happy times we spent with you
[Chorus]
Onward eastward, ever eastward
To the rising of the sun
Homeward ever, ever homeward
To the land where I was born
Twice five thousand miles behind us
Twice five thousand miles before
Now we’re passing the old lighthouse
leading for the city’s shore
[Chorus] 2 X
***
R
ROLL THE OLD CHARIOT
​
CHORUS​
We’re gonna roll the old chariot along,
We’ll roll the old chariot along
We’ll roll the old chariot along
And we’ll all hang on behind.
A drop of Nelson’s blood…
wouldn’t do us any harm
CHORUS
A pint of Guinness stout...
wouldn’t do us any harm
CHORUS
A plate of oyster stew….
CHORUS
A can of Gator whiskey…
CHORUS
An able bodied seaman…
CHORUS
Some company in me hammock...
CHORUS
A night on the shore…
CHORUS
Some silver in me pocket...
CHORUS
Singin’ at (wherever we are singing)
CHORUS
***​
REUBEN RANZO
Long Drag Halyard Shantey
Now Pity Reuben Ranzo
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
Poor old Reuben Ranzo
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
Ranzo was no sailor
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
But he shipped aboard a Whaler
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
He was so bleedin' dirty
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
That they gave him five and thirty
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
The Skipper's daughter Suzy
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
She begged her dad for mercy
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
She gave him wine and water
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
And a little more than she ought to
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
She taught him navigation
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
For to fit him to his station
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
Now He's got his First Mates Papers
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
And he's a terror to the sailors
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
He's known wherever them whale fish blow Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
And he's the hardest bastard on the go
Ranzo, Me boys, Ranzo
***
ROLL THE WOODPILE DOWN
​
Way down south where the cocks do crow
Way down in Florida
The gals all play the old banjo
And we’ll roll the woodpile down
CHORUS
Rollin’,( rollin’), rollin’ (rollin)
rollin’ the whole world round
That brown gal of mine
down the Georgia line
And we’ll roll the woodpile down
When I was a young man in my prime
Way down in Florida
I’d clench them yellow girls two at a time
And we’ll roll the woodpile down
Chorus
Well roll ‘em high and we’ll roll ‘em low
Way down in Florida
We’ll heave ‘em up and away we’ll go
And we’ll roll the woodpile down
Chorus
It’s rouse or bust her is the cry
Way down in Florida
A black man’s wage is never high
And we’ll roll the woodpile down
Chorus
One more heave and that’ll do
Way down in Florida
For we’re the bullies to kick her through
And we’ll roll the woodpile down
Chorus
***
RUN THE RIGGIN' AGAIN / FAIR MAID
​
When I was a fair maid about seventeen
I listed in the Navy for to serve the queen.
I listed in the Navy a sailor lad to stand
For to hear the cannons rattleand the music so grand.
The music so grand,the music so grand
For to hear the cannons rattleand the music so grand
​
The officer that listed me was a tall
and handsome man.
He said You'll make a sailorso come along my man.
My waist been tall and slendermy fingers long and thin
And the very soon they learned meI soon exceeded them.
I soon exceeded them,I soon exceeded them
And the very soon they learned meI soon exceeded them
​
They sent me to my bed
they sent me to my bunk
To lie with a sailor I never was afraid.
But taking off me bluecoat shirtoften made me smile
For to think I was a sailorand a maiden all the while.
A maiden all the while,a maiden all the while
For to think I was a maidenand a sailor all the while
​
They sent me up to London
for to guard the tower
And I thought I might be theretill my very dying hour.
But a lady fell in love with meI told her I was a maid.
She went up to the captainand my secret she betrayed.
My secret she betrayed,my secret she betrayed
She went up to the captainand my secret she betrayed
​
The captain he came up to me
and asked if this was so.
I dare not ,I dare not,I dare not say no.
It's a pity we should lose yousuch a sailor lad you made.
It's a pity we should lose yousuch a handsome young maid.
Such a handsome young maidsuch a handsome young maid
It's a pity we should lose yousuch a handsome young maid
​
So fare thee well my captain
you've been so kind to me.
And likewise my shipmatesI'm sorry to part with thee.
But if ever the Navy needs a lada sailor I'll remain.
I'll put on me cap and feathersand I'll run the rigging again.
I'll run the rigging again,I'll run the rigging again
I'll put on me cap and feathersand I'll run the rigging again
***