Hello, my name is Peter Kasin, a Park Ranger at San Francisco Maritime National Historical
Park, and here is another in a series of "sheltered-in chanteys." This is called called "We're All
Surrounded." It's a cotton-screwing chantey, used by screwmen, who in the southern ports
were men who used large jackscrews to stow cotton into the holds of ships. So, here we
go:
Martha wept and Mary Cried (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
That good old man has up and died (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
(Grand chorus:) Carry the news, carry the news to Mary.
Carry the news that we're all surrounded.
Shake off your slumbers and arise (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
The sun is shining in the skies (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
(Grand chorus:) Carry the news, carry the news to Mary
Carry the news that we're all surrounded
The good old man we'll see no more (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
He has gone to the happy shore (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
(Grand chorus:) Carry the news, carry the news to Mary
Carry the news that we're all surrounded
He's gone and left us all alone (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
And Gabriel's trumpet called him home (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
(Grand chorus:) Carry the news, carry the news to Mary
Carry the news that we're all surrounded
Adam and Eve climbed up a tree (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
Their lamb and master for to see (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
(Grand chorus:) Carry the news, carry the news to Mary
Carry the news that we're all surrounded
Eve stole an apple from a tree (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
And Adam was stung by a bumblebee (Chorus:) We're all surrounded
(Grand chorus:) Carry the news, carry the news to Mary
Carry the news that we're all surrounded