Drop of Nelson's Blood

A staple of the folk music community, sometimes called "Roll the Old Chariot Along" due to its rousing chorus. An older version of the song appears to have originated in the United States as an African American spiritual sometime in the 19th century. The earliest known written example is from a 1901 collection called *Cabin and Plantation Songs*; it features the same chorus, but the melody and verses are different. A similar version was also used as a Salvation Army campaign hymn in the 1880s.

The modern version takes the form of a stamp and go shanty, and lends itself to endless variations and improvised verses, though traditionally it often features several references to alcohol and can get quite bawdy. It also frequently features extensive use of nautical slang and references to other shanties. It is unclear when and where the shanty version emerged, but several American gospel performers were touring the UK in the late 19th century (and traveling there by ship), providing one possible avenue of transmission.

### Factoids

One possible citation for the religious version of the song is from Laura Ingalls Wilder's book *The Long Winter*, in which she describes it being sung as a work song in late 1880. If accurate, this would be the oldest known example of the song being sung; however, it is hardly a definitive reference, since the book was written nearly 60 years later and significantly fictionalized.

**Nelson's blood** is nautical slang for rum, owing to a somewhat gruesome legend about the preservation of Admiral Nelson's body. In order to transport the corpse home after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, it was said to have been preserved in a cask of rum to ward off decay. Rumor holds that the sailors aboard the ship drilled holes into the cask and drank the spirits.

There is some truth to the legend, in that Nelson's body was transported in liquor, though it is reputed to have been a mix of brandy, camphor, and myrrh. It is doubtful it was consumed.

Traditionally, someone with a booming bass voice attempts to hold the note of the "roll" in the chorus through to the end of the line.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version released on C-Sides; too many versions of the song exist to choose any one as definitive.

>
> Well a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And A drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And A drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And we'll all hang on behind
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> And we'll roll the old chariot along
>
> We'll roll the golden chariot along
>
> We'll roll the old chariot along
>
> And we'll all hang on behind!
>
>
>
> And a cellar full of beer wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And a cellar full of beer wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And a cellar full of beer wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And we'll all hang on behind
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> And a toastie on the grill wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And a toastie on the grill wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And a toastie on the grill wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And we'll all hang on behind
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Oh a roll in the clover wouldn't do us any harm,
>
> And a roll in the clover wouldn't do us any harm,
>
> And a roll in the clover wouldn't do us any harm,
>
> And we'll all hang on behind
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> And a freebie from the bar wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And a freebie from the bar wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And a freebie from the bar wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And we'll all hang on behind
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> And another swig of gin wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And another swig of gin wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And another swig of gin wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And we'll all hang on behind
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> And a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
>
> And we'll all hang behind
>
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

* Amazon Music
* Amazon Purchase
* Anghami
* Apple Music
* Deezer
* Spotify
* Tidal

#### YouTube Videos

* Music Video
* You're the actual \*\*\*\*ing guys?!?! | Open Crewsing in Sea of Thieves
* C-Sides version

#### Gig Videos

* Falmouth international Sea Shanty Festival 2016 - Finale
* Falmouth Shanty Festival 2022 finale, w/The Barnacle Buoys, Harry Browns of Bristol, and The Severn Whalers

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns and Friends, El Pony Pisador! (12 Aug 2018)
* Christmas Party with The Longest Johns!!! (19 Dec 2018)
* Album Launch Party! Cures What Ails Ya, Available June 10th (Preorder Now) (10 Jun 2020)
* Carry On My Wayward Stream (16 Sep 2020)
* (New Merch) I'm Goin' Off the Rails on a Crazy Stream (14 Oct 2020)
* Fancy Dress Social Media Live Stream Tour (31 Oct 2020)
* We're Going to Wellermania! (14 Apr 2021)
* Nightmare on Elm Stream (27 Oct 2021)
* THE SING ALONG! JINGLE JAM 2021 - DAY 6! w/ The Longest Johns (9 Dec 2021)
* Cadbury Stream Egg (13 Apr 2022)
* Heinz Baked Stream (14 Sep 2022)
* Ghost in the Mastream (30 Aug 2023)

#### Gaming Streams

* Anyone for a Shanty? (Part 1) (23 Sep 2020)
* Sea of Thieves Tall Tales Marathon for Charity (Part 1) (29 Jun 2020)
* Sea of Sings! - 05/10/2020
* Sea of Thieves? Singing? Splendid! - 09/10/2020
* Sea of Joviality with KroTukk and KHARITES\_ - 28/11/2020
* Streamy time sails with friends and song! - 23/04/2021