Sacramento (C) [109-110] (97-99)

This outward bound capstan chantey is recognizable as a similar tune + chorus to "Camptown Races." The jury is out as to whether the chantey or the Stephen Foster song came first, with both emerging around the same time after the California Gold Rush. I'm inclined to believe the popular minstrel song came first, inspiring adaptations and parodies. Even before the chantey, this over-land version which sing about the gold rush may have come in:
http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/trackdetail.aspx?itemid=12681
I'm also inclined to believe (without evidence) that the bawdy version of the chantey was probably the first and most popular, being a sort of parody. You can check out Salty Dick singing that version here:
http://www.saltydick.com/lyrics/01-banks-of-the-sacramento.htm
Finally, there are different melody variants given by Hugill, and I chose to sing the one OTHER than the more familiar "Camptown Races" tune, for variety's sake.

Also found in:
LA Smith 1888, Sharp 1914, Doerflinger 1951

See the whole "Shanties from the Seven Seas" project, here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=58B55DD66F22060C

Category:

Music

Tags:

• camptown
• races
• sea
• song
• shanty
• chantey
• capstan
• sailing
• ship
• minstrel
• cape
• horn

[raymondcrooke]

Another fascinating video from your project. Keep up the good work - and thanks to Lew Dite for sending it to me.

[hultonclint]

Thanks! It has been a fun learning experience

[lewdite]

Thanks for posting this in response to my Camptown Races.

I enjoyed your song.

[hultonclint]

Thank you, Lew! Your version of Camptown is one of the nicest I've heard, which is why I'd hoped to link viewers to it that happen to stumble upon my song.

[melonroja]

i just like this song soo much ... thank you too much for singing it for me. :) i like those old traditional songs... we got to keep them ... so they wont get lost ... (although i´m from germany)... keep on going ! all the best!

[hultonclint]

It is my pleasure. Thank you very much for your kind words.