Shallow Brown

The exact origins of this song are difficult to trace, given its immense variety in form and lyrical content; many versions are composed almost entirely of floating verses from other shanties, and even the refrain is not always consistent. Some have a sailor eager to leave a lover who has "boozed away" his pay, while others are from the point of view of a slave being sold away from his love. It is sung to various tunes, sometimes as a shanty, sometimes as a slow and mournful forebitter, to the point where some collections class the two as separate songs. It is one of many traditional songs that push the boundaries of just how different a version can be before it becomes an entirely different song.

That said, it definitely belongs to the milieu of work songs and sea songs stewing in and around the ports of the southern United States in the mid-19th century, and versions are evidenced in print at least as far back as 1882.

This song appears on a number of livestreams for the Longest Johns, who perform a "slow" version.

### Factoids

Stan Hugill refers to "Challo" as being a West Indies slang term meaning someone of mixed race, but provides no evidence, and all other references to the term seem to trace back to Hugill. After combing more than half a dozen lexicons and dictionaries of 19th century slang, no referent to Challo, Chalo, or variation of Shilo was found, making Hugill's claim rather suspect.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the versions performed by the Longest Johns in their livestreams, though the number and order of verses sung vary across performances.

>
> It's farewell me Juliana
>
> (Shallow, o shallow brown)
>
> And it's goodbye me Juliana
>
> (Shallow, o shallow brown) [continues throughout]
>
>
>
> For I'm bound away to leave you
>
> Yes I'm bound away to leave you
>
>
>
> Going to ship on board a whaler
>
> Going to ship on board a whaler
>
>
>
> Going to get my clothes in order
>
> For the packet leaves tomorrow
>
>
>
> I'm bound away for St George's
>
> Bound away to far St. George's
>
>
>
> For me wife and baby grieve me,
>
> And it breaks my heart to leave thee,
>
>
>
> For I love to gaze upon you
>
> And to spend me money on you
>
>
>
> For I'm bound away to leave you
>
> But I never will deceive you
>
>
>
> O you are me only treasure
>
> And I love ye still full measure
>
>
>
> Fare thee well, my Juliana
>
> And it's goodbye, my Juliana
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### **Full Band Streams**

* The Longest Johns and Friends, El Pony Pisador! (12 Aug 2018)
* The Longest Johns and Friends, April w/ Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith (30 Apr 2019)
* Spooktober Spectacular and Farewell to Anna Livestream (30 Oct 2019)
* Welcome to a New Decade with The Longest Johns (22 Jan 2020)
* Lockdown Lullabies and Rousing Renditions (15 April 2020)
* Stream If You Wanna Go Faster (12 May 2021)
* Streamship Troopers (15 May 2023)

#### **Chill Streams**

* It’s music stream time, everybody loves music stream time… - 11/05/2020

#### **Gaming Streams**

* The Longest Johns Play Sea of Thieves but the servers die and we sing anyway (20 Mar 2018)
* Adventures on the Sea of Thieves with Andy and JD (29 Aug 2018)
* Sing and Sail 2: Damp Boogaloo - 25/05/2020
* Sea of Sings LIVE | The Longest Johns Sea of Thieves Stream (31 Mar 2021)

1. ↑ https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=7955
2. ↑ https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/Hugi257.html
3. ↑ https://www.vwml.org/record/RoudFS/S405198