Mobile Bay

(John, Come Tell Us As We Haul Away)

Was you ever down in Mobile bay?
Ch: Johnny come tell us and pump away,
A-screwing cotton by the day?
Ch: Johnny come tell us and pump away
Aye, aye, pump away
Johnny come tell us and pump away.

From Roll and Go by Joanna Carver Colcord (1924)

Were you never down In Mobile Bay?
Ch: John, come tell us as we haul away
A-screwing cotton all the day?
Ch: John, come tell us as we haul away.

Aye, aye, haul, aye,
John, come tell us as we haul away.

Oh! yes, I've been in Mobile Bay
So he tells us as we haul away;
A-screwing cotton all the day!
So he tells us as we haul away;

What did you see in Mobile Bay?
John, come tell us as we haul away;
Were the girls all fair, and free, and gay?
John come tell us as we haul away;

Oh! this I say in Mobile Bay,
So he tells us as we haul away;
A pretty girl a-making hay!
So he tells us as we haul away;

And the maiden's name was pretty May,
So he tells us as we haul away;
She was fair and good, and was not gay,
So he tells us as we haul away;

And what did you do in Mobile Bay?
John, come tell us as we haul away;
Did you give that fair girl all your pay?
John, come tell us as we haul away;

Oh this I did in Mobile Bay,
So he tells us as we haul away;
I love the maid whose name was May;
So he tells us as we haul away;


From Sailors' Songs or "Chanties" by Frederick J. Davis and Ferris Tozer (1886)