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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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)
Them girls all dance to the old banjo
(And we'll roll the woodpile down) [continues throughout verses]

{Chorus}
Rollin'! (Rollin'!) Rollin'! (Rollin'!)
Rollin' the whole world 'round
That fine gal o' mine's on the Georgia line
And we'll roll the woodpile down

Oh, what can you do in Tampa Bay
But give them pretty girls all your pay

{Chorus}

Them Cardiff girls ain't got no frills
They're skinny and tight as catfish gills

{Chorus}

We'll roll 'em high and we'll roll 'em low
We'll roll 'er up and away we'll go

{Chorus}

Oh, roust and bust her is the cry
A sailor's wage is never high

{Chorus}
Oh, one more pull and that will do!
For we're the boys to kick her through!

{Chorus}

Recordings[]

Streaming/Purchase[]

YouTube Videos[]

Gig Videos[]

Full Band Streams[]

Gaming Streams[]

[1] ttps://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/Hugi160.html

[2] ttps://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=16739#2081164

[1]

[2]

Woodpile

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