Rio Grande

A traditional capstan shanty collected by all the major text compilers including Hugill, Doerflinger, and others. It is remarkably well-attested in the written record as dating at least to the 1860s, with the earliest known contemporary reference appearing in 1868.

## Factoids

According to Robert B Waltz at the *Traditional Ballad Index*, "The 'Rio Grande' of this song is almost certainly not the river of southwestern North America, but rather the province Rio Grande do Sul of southern Brazil." The reference to the **southern star** (Polaris Australis) in the first verse supports the idea that they are indeed headed south of the equator.

**Scoff** is a slang term meaning to consume something voraciously. **Lime juice** was provided to sailors as a source of vitamin C, to prevent scurvy.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns in their livestreams; an extensive compilation of older versions can be found here.

>
> Our ship went a-sailin' on over the bar
>
> (Away for Rio!)
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> And we pointed our bow to the old southern star
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> (And we're bound for the Rio Grande!) [continues throughout]
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>
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> {Chorus}
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> And away, boys, away!
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> Away for Rio,
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> So fare thee well, all you pretty young girls,
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> And we're bound for the Rio Grande.
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>
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> Oh say was you never down Rio Grande?
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> It's there that the water runs down golden sand
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>
>
> {Chorus}
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>
>
> There was some of us sick and some of us sore
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> We scoffed all our lime juice and can't get no more
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>
>
> {Chorus}
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>
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> So pack up your donkeys an' get underway
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> Them girls we are leavin' will get our half-pay
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>
>
> {Chorus}
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>
>
> Goodbye to Molly and goodbye to Sue
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> You folks on the quay side, it's goodbye to you
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>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Sing only one pull avast heaving my sons
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> Sing only one chorus it's blowing big guns
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>
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> {Chorus 2x}
>
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### YouTube Videos

* Music Video
* All Shanties from AC4 Black Flag Supercut / Playlist

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns and Friends, February Edition (New donation system) (27 Feb 2019)
* Spooktober Spectacular and Farewell to Anna Livestream (30 Oct 2019)
* The Longest Johns Save the Day! Or maybe just sing and chat... (29 Apr 2020)
* All Aboard the Stream Locomotive (2 Jun 2021)
* It's The Most Wonderful Stream of the Year (22 Dec 2021)
* Stream Lantern (27 Sep 2023)
* Streamboat Willie (17 Jan 2024)

#### Gaming Streams

* The Longest Johns Play Sea of Thieves but the servers die and we sing anyway (20 Mar 2018)
* GHOST SHIP! And some singing I guess... - 19/06/2020
* Sea of Sings on a Friday evening, oh what a salty sight to sea - 03/07/2020
* Full Friendship followed by Battle Royale! - 23/11/2020
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_jiyCkhRJDE&list=PLt4Ofcbsrwx-qht-0dvJf89CHqqy4wJbz&t=2560s Welcome to the Shantdome! - 4/12/2020 Stream
* Season 2 of Sings! - 19/04/2021

1. ↑ https://www.vwml.org/search?q=RN317&collectionfilter=RoudFS;RoudBS&is=1
2. ↑ https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=79100#3191518
3. ↑ https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/Doe064.html
4. ↑ "scoff, v.2." OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2022, www.oed.com/view/Entry/172865. Accessed 31 August 2022.