Samoa Song

Samoa Song is the name of a shanty that Stan Hugill calls a "Farewell song":

This is a type of goodbye song that used to be heard throughout the fascinating isles of Polynesia, sung by natives and whites alike on the departure of a ship - a big sailing ship, an inter-Island trading schooner, or a steamer. It is in the mixed language known as Samoan-Pidgin. The word "pidgin" is a native form of the word "business," used from the China Coast to Easter Island, and when linked with the name of another language - such as Pidgin-English, Pidgin-German, and so on - indicates a type of trading lingo developed during the years of barter between natives and white merchants and sailors.

The Samoan or Navigators Group, owned for many years by Germany, was naturally a port-o'-call - Apia being the main port - for German sailing ships and steamers. This song was known entirely or in parts by many German seamen engaged in teh South Sea trade. The chorus was often sung in German thus:

"Oh, ich werde dich ni vergessen,
Samoa vergesse ich nie. (Twice)

Transcribing Hugill's font as has been difficult and probably introduced errors. If you have information about this shanty, or can provide a partial translation, please use the contact form!