Woodpile

This pumping or capstan shanty is a nautical version of a shore song that originated on Broadway. It first appeared under the title "Haul the Woodpile Down" in an 1887 play called *Pete*, with lyrics by Edward Harrigan and music by Dave Braham. It's unclear when exactly the song made the leap from shore to sea, but it continued evolving in both contexts, resulting in quite the variety among different iterations, from this shanty version collected in the early 1920s to a 1927 minstrel-influenced version from future Grand Ole Opry star Uncle Dave Macon.

The meaning of the title line has been the subject of much debate; early "Haul" versions often include the line, "De steamboat ready to burn dat pine", indicating a likely riverboat context. However, especially given the multiple versions of the title line, it seems quite possible that different performers had different meanings in mind, or perhaps no particular meaning at all; nonsense lines and verses, after all, are frequent occurrences in many folk songs.

## Factoids

A version of this song is the subject of one of the oldest surviving audio recordings of banjo music in the world, recorded by Charles Asbury in the early 1890s. You can listen to it here.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their livestreams.

>
> Ah-way down South where the cocks do crow
>
> (Hey! Way down in Florida)
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> Them girls all dance to the old banjo
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> (And we'll roll the woodpile down) [continues throughout verses]
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>
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> {Chorus}
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> Rollin'! (Rollin'!) Rollin'! (Rollin'!)
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> Rollin' the whole world 'round
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> That fine gal o' mine's on the Georgia line
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> And we'll roll the woodpile down
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>
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> Oh, what can you do in Tampa Bay
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> But give them pretty girls all your pay
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>
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> {Chorus}
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>
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> Them Cardiff girls ain't got no frills
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> They're skinny and tight as catfish gills
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>
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> {Chorus}
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>
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> We'll roll 'em high and we'll roll 'em low
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> We'll roll 'er up and away we'll go
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>
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> {Chorus}
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>
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> Oh, roust and bust her is the cry
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> A sailor's wage is never high
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>
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> {Chorus}
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> Oh, one more pull and that will do!
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> For we're the boys to kick her through!
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>
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> {Chorus}
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>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

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

#### YouTube Videos

* Between Wind and Water version
* On a Quest to find Friendship | Open Crewsing in Sea of Thieves

#### Gig Videos

* The Longest Johns “Roll The Woodpile Down” live @ Kings Square Gloucester Shanty Festival (27 May 2017)
* Longest Johns: Roll The Woodpile Down (15 Oct 2014)

#### Full Band Streams

* It’s hot! Stream was a bad choice… Or was it? Full Band Live Stream!! (24 Jun 2020)
* Nightmare on Elm Street (27 Oct 2021)
* Stream of Mushroom Soup (23 Nov 2021)
* Heinz Baked Stream (14 Sep 2022)
* Big Announcement Stream (22 Nov 2023)

#### Gaming Streams

* Ocean of Larcenists! - Sailing & Singing with JD, Andy & Dave (21 Feb 2019)
* Sea of Sings on a Monday afternoon, oh what a splendid sight to see - 29/06/2020
* Sea of Sings: Sing harder! - 06/07/2020
* Musical larceny on the big blue wet thing - 10/08/2020
* Musical larceny on the big blue wet thing - 14/09/2020
* Sea of Sings! Yarr and all that… - 16/10/2020
* Sea of Good Tidings - 30/11/2020
* Musical larceny on the big blue wet thing - 7/12/2020
* Sea of Sings! With JD, Dave, Robbie and WIREDmag! - 08/03/2021

1. ↑ https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/Hugi160.html
2. ↑ https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=16739#2081164