Digital Tradition Mirror

John, John the Water Man

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

John, John the Water Man

I went down to Gila Point
  To hear master Sheila blow,
  John, John, de water man
  The fire man below, boy,
  John, John, de water man
  John, John, de oh.

Break oar, break oar
Me master can' buy more.
     John, John, de water man
     John, John, below.
     Singing John, John, de water man
     John, John, below.

I stepped right up to Gila
To hear master Sheila blow.
     John, John, de water man
     The fire man below, boy,
     Singing John, John, de water man
     John, John, below.

Broke oar, broke oar
Me master can' buy more.
     John, John, de water man
     The fire man below, boy,
     Singing John, John, de water man
     John, John, below.

From Roger Abraham's Deep the Water, Shallow the Shore
Note: Purportedly about a burning of a boat a long time ago off a
point  on St. Kitts. "The singers thought Sheila referred to  the
wind." A rowing song from small-boat fishermen.

RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!