Abel Brown (song) - Mainsail Café

The name Abel Brown probably stems from a conglomeration of all A.B.'s or able-bodied seamen.

Joanna Colcord wrote that this song, along with The Hog Eye Man, held the "dubious distinction" as the most vulgar of sea songs. The version here, which she calls Abram Brown, is doubtlessly cleaned up. By 1928, Frank Shay published a clean version and "county music" performers began to spread the song. In later days, Abel Brown became known under the title Barnacle Bill the Sailor. Stan Hugill explains that her tune matches the "modern gramophone recording" of Barnacle Bill the Sailor.

Hugill learned this shanty, which he calls "entirely obscene" on his first voyage to sea. Once again, he has had to clean up the printed versions but he attempts to remain true to the theme. The shanty would often be sung by two shantymen, one for the questions and one for the answers (see also: Billy Boy and Mobile Bay).

Oh, where am I going to sleep tonight
Ch: Says Abel Brown the sailor
Oh, where am I going to sleep tonight
Ch: Says Abel Brown the sailor

You may sleep up on the mat,
Ch: Cried the fair young maiden
You may sleep up on the mat,
Ch: Cried the fair young maiden

Oh the mat is rough an' me skin ain't tough,
Oh the mat is rough an' me skin ain't tough.

You can sleep upon the shelf,
You can sleep upon the shelf.

What 'ave yer got upon the shelf?
What 'ave yer got upon the shelf?

I've got some rum upon the shelf,
I've got some rum upon the shelf.

Me throat is long an' me thirst is strong,
Me throat is long an' me thirst is strong.

What if you roll from off the shelf?
What if you roll from off the shelf?

I'll bounce on the floor, an' ask for more,
I'll bounce on the floor, an' ask for more.

What if the police should come to the house?
What if the police should come to the house?

I'll take 'em on in two's and three's,
I'll take 'em on in two's and three's.

Then I'll let you stay with me,
Then I'll let you stay with me.

Expurgated version

From Shanties From the Seven Seas by Stan Hugill (1961)

Who's there, rapping on my door?
Who's there, rapping on my door?
Who's there, rapping on my door?
Said the fair young maiden

It's me, me love! and I'll roam no more;
It's Abel Brown the Sailor.
Now hurry, love, and open the door!
Said Abel Brown the Sailor.

I have heard your lies before,
I have heard your lies before,
I have heard your lies before,
Said the fair young maiden

I've brung me pay for to blow ashore,
Said Abel Brown the Sailor,
Now hurry, love, and open the door!
Said Abel Brown the Sailor.

I'll come down and let you in,
I'll come down and let you in,
I'll come down and let you in,
Said the fair young maiden.

I'll kiss your lips, your neck and chin,
Said Abel Brown the Sailor.
We'll jump in bed and wallow in sin,
Said Abel Brown the Sailor.

What if we should have a child?
What if we should have a child?
What if we should have a child?
Said the fair young maiden.

If it's a girl, we'd raise her mild,
Said Abel Brown the Sailor.
If it's a boy, we'd raise him wild,
Said Abel Brown the Sailor.

Another expurgated version

Metadata

Hauling shanty, Halyard shanty, Stamp-and-go shanty

Alcohol

Abel Brown

(Barnacle Bill the Sailor; Abram Brown)

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