Lyrics

Essequibo River

Oh the Essequibo River
is the king of rivers all
Oh the Essequibo River
is the king of rivers all

Chorus:
Somebody oh Johnny Somebody oh
Buddy ta na na we are somebody oh
Somebody oh Johnny, somebody oh
Buddy ta na na we are somebody oh

The Essequibo bo−sun
is the king of bo−suns all
Buddy ta na na we are somebody oh (Chorus)

The Essequibo sailor
is the king of sailors all
Buddy ta na na we are somebody oh (Chorus)

The Essequibo captain
is the king of captains all
Buddy ta na na we are somebody oh (Chorus)

The Essequibo Judy
is the queen of Judies all
Buddy ta na na we are somebody oh (Chorus)

The Essequibo River
is the king of rivers all
The Essequibo River
is the king of rivers all

Song Notes

The river is in Venezuela, and this song comes from Guiana, where it was used as a stowing and moving shanty. One of the earliest examples of African rhythms entering the sailors song store. Later it would be adapted by chequer-boarders as a halyard shanty, on board Yankee and Blue Nose (Nova Scotian) vessels.

This song has been recorded by the Exmouth Shanty Men, Gaelic Storm, The Corsairs, the Storm Weather Shanty Choir and others.

When sharing a stage with Tom Kastle he would often call on Bounding Main to join him in this song, “Come on – you know this one!”  We didn’t.  We eventually learned it, but as of the Horrible Coronavirus Isolation of 2020 we have not added it to our repertoire.