Santiana

This traditional capstan shanty is well attested from the 1860s onward, and likely emerged around the same time as General Taylor, during or shortly after the Mexican American War. Like "Taylor" and their close cousin Fire Marengo, the song and particularly the chorus shows the influence of African American dockworkers in the American South.

Countless versions of the lyrics exist (not all of them in English), some with verses focusing on Santa Anna and other historical figures, others more concerned with sailing in general or the female populations of various ports. The "plains" of Mexico may be replaced with "hills" or a "bay", or the whole phrase replaced with "Californ-i-o", and Santiana in his many nominal variations is sometimes swapped out for "Susianna".

The Longest Johns' version was released as the second track on Between Wind and Water.

### Factoids

On the subject of the historical Santa Anna, Stan Hugill once wrote:

>
> Quite a number of British seamen deserted their ships to join Santa Aña's[sic] wild and ragged army — Britishers, it would appear, favoured the cause of the Mexicans.
>
>

Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón, or Santiana to the British sailors, was a Mexican politician, President of Mexico, and General during the Mexican-American war. He was a wealthy landowner with a strong political base in Veracruz, and is a broadly controversial figure in Mexican history.

Contrary to his storied death in the song, Santa Anna wasn't killed by General Taylor, nor did he lose any limbs in battle. After his defeat by Taylor during the Mexican-American war in 1848, Santa Anna was exiled, first to Kingston and then Colombia, but would return to Mexico five years later, where he was restored as President. Political corruption saw a final end to his career in 1854, when he was exiled once more.

**Molley Del Ray** refers to the Battle of Molino del Rey, part of the Battle for Mexico City during the Mexican-American War. Neither Santa Anna nor Taylor were actually present for it. Other versions sometimes instead reference the Battle of Monterrey, with which Santa Anna was also not involved. Both battles resulted in American victories.

Some might argue Santa Anna got the last laugh, given that he outlived Taylor by more than 25 years.

## Lyrics

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

>
> Oh, Santiana gained the day
>
> (Away Santiana)
>
> Napoleon of the West, they say
>
> (Along the plains of Mexico) [continues throughout]
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> Well, heave her up and away we'll go
>
> Away Santiana
>
> Heave her up and away we'll go
>
> Along the plains of Mexico
>
>
>
> She's a fast clipper ship and a bully good crew
>
> And an old salt Yank for a captain too
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Santiana fought for gold
>
> Around Cape Horn through the ice and snow
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> 'Twas on the field of Molley del Rey
>
> Well both his legs got blown away
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> It was a fierce and bitter strife
>
> The General Taylor took his life
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Santiana now we mourn
>
> We left him buried off Cape Horn
>
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

* Amazon Music (Between Wind and Water version)
* Amazon Music (Commodore 1864 version)
* Apple Music/iTunes (Between Wind and Water version)
* Apple Music/iTunes (Commodore 1864 version)
* Bandcamp (Between Wind and Water version)
* Deezer (Between Wind and Water version)
* Deezer (Commodore 1864 version)
* Pandora (Between Wind and Water version)
* Pandora (Commodore 1864 version)
* Spotify (Between Wind And Water version)
* Spotify (Commodore 1864 version)

#### Youtube Videos

* Between Wind and Water version
* Commodore 1864 version
* Santiana (in a small boat)
* “Four children in a trench-coat” | Open Crewsing in Sea of Thieves

#### Gig Videos

* The Longest Johns - ‘Santiana’, Teign Shanty Festival, Teignmouth, 2019 (30 Sep 2019)
* The Longest Johns - Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival 2019 (3 Nov 2019)
* Glasgow Shanty Day (Sep 2019)
* The Longest Johns - Santiana (Live) Latitude 2021 (24 Jul 2021)
* The Longest Johns at Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2021 (17 Nov 2021)
* The Longest Johns — Live at Old Songs (26 Feb 2022)
* The Longest Johns Live NYC 2022 @ Le Poisson Rouge (2 Mar 2022)
* Exeter Phoenix (26 April 2022)
* Bristol O2 Academy (5 May 2022) - fan recording
* Bristol O2 Academy (5 May 2022) - official live video
* Wickham Festival (05 Aug 2022)
* With Pressgang Mutiny and The Young'uns; Drom Taberna, Toronto ON (24 Nov 2022)
* Jimmys - Liverpool (9 Dec 2022)
* Kraków, Poland (26 Feb 2023)
* Cursus Festival 2023

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns, Album Launch gig/party (19 Jun 2018)
* The Longest Johns and Friends, El Pony Pisador! (12 Aug 2018)
* The Longest Johns Impromptu Singing Stream! (17 Nov 2018)
* Christmas Party with The Longest Johns!!! (19 Dec 2018)
* The Longest Johns and Friends, March w/ Sam Brookes (22 Mar 2019)
* The Longest Johns Streamtember (4 Sep 2019)
* Welcome to the New Decade with The Longest Johns (22 Jan 2020)
* Longest Johns Livestream | Lockdown Lullabies and Rousing Renditions (15 Apr 2020)
* Album Launch Party! Cures What Ails Ya, Avaliable June 10th (Preorder Now) (10 June 2020)
* 100k Subscriber Thank You Stream (19 Aug 2020)
* Carry On My Wayward Stream (16 Sep 2020)
* I Stream, You Stream, We all Scream for Live Stream (20 Jan 2021)
* All Aboard the Stream Locomotive (2 Jun 2021)
* DB2021 - The Longest Johns [Clean Version] (19 Nov 2021)
* THE SING ALONG! JINGLE JAM 2021 - DAY 6! W/ The Longest Johns (9 Dec 2021)
* Streamage Mutant Ninja Turtles (3 May 2022)
* Hark The Herald Angels Stream (21 Dec 2022)
* Do Androids Stream of Electric Sheep (3 Aug 2023)
* Jingle Jam 2023 | Day 4 (4 Dec 2023)
* JINGLE JAM DAY 8! The Longest Johns Live Jingle Jam Concert (8 Dec 2023)

#### Chill Streams

* Roll on up to Chilltown with Andy and JD (30 Mar 2020)

#### Gaming Streams

* The Longest Johns Play Sea of Thieves but the servers die and we sing anyway (20 Mar 2018)
* Sing & Sail & Kegs me Skellyboys! 15/06/2020
* Sea of Thieves Tall Tales Marathon for Charity: Part 2 (29 Jun 2020)
* Sea of Sings: Sing harder! - 06/07/2020
* Sea of Sings! Let’s ride the waves like majestic manatees! - 17/07/2020
* Musical larceny on the big blue wet thing - 10/08/2020
* Hoist Up The Thing! - 14/08/2020
* It’s Sea of Sings! Featuring Krotukk! Huzzah! - 28/08/2020
* 4 Sloops 4 Furious - 04/09/2020
* It’s boat time! Sea of Sings! - 21/09/2020
* Sea of Sings? Sea of chaos! - 25/09/2020
* SHANT! - 02/10/2020
* Sea of Sings! - 05/10/2020
* Singing you say? On the sea you say? Sea of Sings! - 12/10/2020
* Sea of Sings! Yarr and all that… - 16/10/2020
* Sea of Sings! With Spammals! SHANT! - 1/11/2020
* Sea of Sings! With Captain\_Falcore! SHANT! - 2/11/2020
* Sea of Sings! - 13/11/2020
* Sea of Joviality with Krotukk and KHARITES\_ - 28/11/2020
* Sea of Good Tidings - 0/11/2020
* Welcome to the Shantdome! - 4/12/2020
* Let’s get splashy - 14/12/2020
* Sea of Sings, ye scurvy dogs! - 4/01/2021
* Sea of Sings! Pirate malarkey afoot! - 15/01/2021
* Virtual Pirate Concert with Krotukk - 16/01/2021
* It’s yarr time! Sea of Sings! Set sails to 100% - 22/01/2021
* Sea of Sings! Seasons or something! - 29/01/2021
* Sea of Sings! Yarr? - 01/02/2021
* Game Dev stream! Yarrs for everyone! - 05/02/2021
* Sea of Sings! Let’s get splashy! - 06/02/2021
* Sea of Sings LIVE (31 Mar 2021)
* It’s Friday Funtimes! Let’s get in the sea! - 26/02/2021
* Sea of Sings! With JD, Dave, Robbie and WIREDmag! - 08/03/2021
* Shanties?!?! On the sea?!?! Why yes it is… With Krotukk and Kharites\_ - 02/04/2021
* Season Two!! New skins, new voyages, same old Kharites\_! - 16/04/2021
* Four men and a baby. (The baby is our ship) - 10/05/2021
* Splashy splashy! Sea of Sings with Freyline - 11/10/2021
* SING OF THIEVES! JINGLE JAM 2021 - DAY 14! - THE LONGEST JOHNS (17 Dec 2021)
* Sea of Sings for War Child - 30/05/2022

1. ↑ https://www.vwml.org/roudnumber/207
2. ↑ https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/Doe078.html
3. ↑ https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46588
4. ↑ https://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/santyanna.html