Video
The Capstan Chantey "Oh! California"
Transcript
Hello, I’m Peter Kasin, a park ranger at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, bringing you this week’s chantey, this one used at the capstan. It goes by two names: Oh! California, or I Come From Salem City, and this is also an example of how sailors would take popular songs from shore and adapt them to chanteys. I think you’ll recognize the melody from this one, “Oh, Susanna.” So, here we go.
I come from Salem City with my washbowl on my knee I’m going to California, the gold dust for to see It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry The sun so hot I froze to death, oh brothers, don’t you cry
Chorus: Oh California, that’s the land for me I’m bound for San Francisco with my washbowl on my knee.
I jumped aboard the “ Liza” ship, and travelled on the sea And every time I thought of home I wished it wasn’t me The vessel reared like any horse, that had of oats a wealth I found it wouldn’t throw me so I thought I’d throw myself
Chorus: Oh! California, that’s the land for me I’m bound for San Francisco with my washbowl on my knee
I thought of all the pleasant time we’ve had together here I thought that I would cry a bit, but couldn’t find a tear The pilot bread was in my mouth, the gold dust in my eye Although I’m going far away, o brothers don’t you cry
Chorus: Oh! California, that’s the land for me I’m bound for San Francisco with my washbowl on my knee
I soon shall be in Frisco, and there I’ll look around When I see the gold lumps there I’ll pick them off the ground I’ll scrape the rivers clean my boys, I’ll drain the rivers dry A pocket full of rocks bring home, so brothers don’t you cry
Chorus: Oh! California, don’t you cry for me I’m bound for San Francisco with my washbowl on my knee
Oh! California, don’t you cry for me I’m bound for San Francisco with my washbowl on my knee
Description
Ranger Kasin sings the capstan chantey "Oh! California."
Duration
2 minutes, 40 seconds
Credit
Peter Kasin
Date Created
07/30/2020
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