Sugar in the Hold

A traditional work song of United States steamboat river trade. Its exact age is difficult to pinpoint, but the earliest known print reference dates to an 1876 newspaper article.

Sugar in the Hold is the thirteenth track on Between Wind and Water.

### Factoids

**Screwing cotton** refers to the process of using large jack-screws to compress and force cotton bales into the hold, a process common in the port of **Mobile**, Alabama.

The ***J.M. White*** is common to most modern versions of the song, but it wasn't launched until 1878. Other known versions of the song mention the *Natchez*, but it's likely that versions were sung about several different boats.

The *J.M. White* was a steamboat famed for its technological advancements that traveled the New Orleans to Greenville trade route, and was supposed to have been the fastest ship to have steamed that line. Famously, it was challenged to a race by the *Natchez*. During the race, the *J.M. White* suffered a severe mechanical failure and had to slow for repairs, and it appeared the race would be over. However, once the repairs were completed, the *White* caught and passed the *Natchez*, setting a new speed record in the process.

Despite its speed and luxurious fittings, the *J.M. White* was never profitable in its eight-year career. It was finally destroyed in a fire in December of 1888.

**Heave the larboard lead** refers to the way they would check the depth of the river. The "lead line" was a rope with a lead weight on the end. They would drop the weight into the water and then measure the depth against marks along the length of the rope. "Larboard" is an older term for "port", so the "larboard lead" would be the lead line on the port (left) side of the boat.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their album, Between Wind and Water.

>
> Well, I wish I was in Mobile Bay
>
> Screwing cotton all the day
>
> But I'm stowing sugar in the hold below
>
> Below, below, below
>
> (HUH)
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> Hey, ho, below, below
>
> Stowing sugar in the hold below
>
> Hey, ho, below, below
>
> Stowing sugar in the hold below
>
>
>
> Well the J.M. White, she's a brand new boat
>
> Stern to stem she's mighty fine
>
> 'Can beat any boat on the New Orleans line
>
> Stowing sugar in the hold below
>
> (HUH)
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Well the engineer shouts through his trumpet:
>
> "Tell the mate we got bad news
>
> Can't get no steam for the fire in the flue,"
>
> Stowing sugar in the hold below
>
> (HUH)
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Well the captain's on the quarter deck
>
> Scratchin' 'way at his old neck
>
> He shouts out: "Heave the larboard lead!"
>
> Stowing sugar in the hold below
>
> (HUH)
>
>
>
> {Chorus 2x}
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

* Amazon Music
* Apple Music/iTunes
* Bandcamp
* Deezer
* Pandora
* Spotify

#### YouTube Videos

* Music Video
* Between Wind and Water version

#### Gig Videos

* The Longest Johns “Sugar in the Hold” (2 Dec 2018)
* The Longest Johns at Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2021 (17 Nov 2021)
* Falmouth Shanty Festival 2022, with The Severn Whalers

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns Singng Stream from Newcastle (+special guests) (8 Dec 2018)
* Singing Live Stream and Special Announcement… (7 Aug 2019)
* I stream, You Stream, We all Scream for Live Stream (20 Jan 2021)
* We’re Going to Wellermania! (14 Apr 2021)
* Be Stream And Not Heard (6 Oct 2021)
* Streamship Troopers (15 Mar 2023)

#### Gaming Streams

* Anyone for a Shanty? |Sea of Thieves! Singing Live Stream!! (Part 1) (23 Sep 2020)
* Ocean of Larcenists! - Sailing & Singing with JD, Andy & Dave (21 Feb 2019)
* Party Boat with Krotukk! - 01/02/2020
* Sail and Sing! Sea of Thieves Stream - 18/05/2020
* I like big boats and I cannot lie - 17/08/2020
* Super Monday Afternoon Singing Time On The Sea! - 07/09/2020
* Sing! Sail! Support friends! - 18/09/2020
* DROPS! Sea of Sings! With BehavingBeardly! SHANT! 30/10/2020
* Sea of Sings! With Captain\_Falcore! SHANT! - 2/11/2020
* Sea of Sings! With Krotukk! SHANT! - 3/11/2020
* Sea of Sings! Welcome to the Shantydome! 6/11/2020
* Full Friendship followed by Battle Royale! - 23/11/2020
* Sea of Good Tidings - 30/11/2020
* Sea of Sings, ye scurvy dogs! | - 4/01/2021
* Get in the sea! It’s Sea of Sings! | 6/01/2021
* Sea of Sings! Let’s get splashy! - 06/02/2021
* Sea of Sings! Let’s get splashy! - 12/02/2021

1. ↑ https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94329#3492340
2. ↑ https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2021/01/17/the-palatial-str-j-m-white/
3. ↑ https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah\_842570
4. ↑ https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94329#3673644