General Taylor

"General Taylor" is a variant of another shanty known as "Stormalong" or "Old Stormy", and sometimes swaps verses with other related shanties such as Fire Marengo and Santiana. In his 1910 collection *Ships, Sea Songs and Shanties,* collector W.B. Whall places "Stormalong" at least as far back as the 1860s, and an apparently-related minstrel song called "Storm Along Stormy" appears in *White's New Ethiopian Song Book* (1850), which seems to have been derived from a version of the shanty, placing its probable origin in the early-to-mid 19th century. The "General Taylor" version likely emerged sometime in the late 1840s or 1850s, during or shortly after the Mexican-American war.

Though both Stan Hugill and Ewan MacColl popularized the song in the 1960s, its biggest resurgence in popularity followed its inclusion on the Great Big Sea album *Play* in 1997. The Longest Johns' version was released as the fifth track on Between Wind and Water.

### Factoids

The line "General Taylor gained the day" is referencing a victory of US General Zachary Taylor over Mexican General Santa Anna (of Santiana fame) during the Mexican-American War, likely at the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847. This was the first foreign war to receive heavy coverage in the American popular press, leading to widespread excitement and celebration when victories were reported,  and it was not uncommon for shanty-men to improvise verses to fit a song to the length of their task, so verses referencing the news of the day seems quite possible. The verses not referencing Taylor, as well as the line about being "dead and gone", are all taken from the "Stormalong" version, which possibly explains the apparent contradiction: General Taylor did not die in battle, and in fact went on to become US President in 1849. However, he did die in office only a year later, so it's also possible that his name was added to the song afterward to memorialize him, rather than earlier to celebrate his victory.

**Old Stormy** refers to Alfred Bulltop Stormalong, an American folk-hero and the subject of numerous nautical-themed tall tales originating in Massachusetts. Stormalong was said to be a sailor and a giant, some 30 feet tall; he was master of a huge clipper ship purportedly so tall that it had hinged masts to avoid catching on the Moon. Several of these tales are collected in Benjamin Botkin's *A Treasury of American Folklore* (1944).

**Shellback** refers to an experienced sailor, specifically one who has crossed the equator and been subject to a line-crossing ceremony, in which sailors who had already crossed the line performed initiation rites for those who had not (known as "pollywogs"). The form of the ceremony varied widely, from teasing and horseplay to brutal and sometimes deadly hazing practices. The ceremony still exists today, though most modern navies have instituted rules against the more violent elements.

## Lyrics

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

>
> General Taylor gained the day
>
> (Walk him along, John, carry him along)
>
> Well, General Taylor gained the day
>
> (Carry him to his burying ground) [continues throughout]
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> To me, way, hey, Stormy
>
> Walk him along, John, carry him along
>
> To me, way, hey, Stormy
>
> Carry him to his burying ground
>
>
>
> Well, I wish I was old Stormy's son
>
> I'd build a ship ten thousand tonne
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> We'll load her up with ale and rum
>
> That every shellback should have some
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> We'll dig his grave with a silver spade
>
> His shroud of finest silk is made
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> We'll lower him down on a golden chain
>
> On every link we'll carve his name
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Well, General Taylor's dead and gone
>
> Well, General Taylor's dead and gone
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

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

#### YouTube Videos

* Music Video
* Between Wind and Water version

#### Gig Videos

* Calne Music & Arts Festival 2017
* Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival 2019

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns Impromptu Singing Stream! (17 Nov 2018)
* The Longest Johns and Friends, February Edition (New donation system) (27 Feb 2019)
* Stream of Mushroom Soup (A day early to fit around touring) (23 Nov 2021)
* Streamworks (18 Jan 2023)
* Stream Lantern (27 Sep 2023)

#### Chill Streams

* The Longest Johns - Andy and JD sing some folk songs and shanties! (2 Jun 2018)
* JD & Andy Chilltime - 27/01/2020

#### Gaming Streams

* Sea of Thieves Tall Tales Marathon for Charity : Part 2 (24 Jun 2020)
* Hoist Up The Thing! - 14/08/2020
* Sea of Sings! 3 2 1 SHANT! - 26/10/2020
* Sea of Sings! - 13/11/2020

1. ↑ https://library.si.edu/digital-library/book/shipsseasongssha00whal
2. ↑ https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p16002coll5/id/7496
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican%E2%80%93American\_War#U.S.\_journalism\_during\_the\_war