Lyrics
Santiano
Windlass Shanty, later a Capstan Shanty
Traditional
Arrangement by Bounding Main
O! Mexico is a place I know,
All along the banks of Mexico! Oh, Oh, Oh
Santiano gained the day,
Away Santiano!
Santiano gained the day,
All along the banks of Mexico!
He gained the day at Molino-Del-Rey.
Away Santiano!
An’ General Taylor ran away,
All along the banks of Mexico!
(Chorus) Oh, Mexico, oh Mexico,
Away, Santiano!
Mexico is a place I know,
All along the banks of Mexico! Oh, Oh, Oh
All his men were brave an’ true,
Away Santiano!
Every soldier brave and true,
All along the banks of Mexico!
The skipper likes whiskey; the mate likes rum,
Away Santiano!
The crew likes both but we can’t get none,
All along the banks of Mexico!
(Chorus) Oh, Mexico, oh Mexico,
Away, Santiano!
Mexico is a place I know,
All along the banks of Mexico! Oh, Oh, Oh
Santiano fought for fame,
Away Santiano!
An’ Santiano gained a name,
All along the banks of Mexico!
The times is hard, and the wages low,
Away Santiano!
It’s time for us to roll and go,
All along the banks of Mexico!
(Chorus) Oh, Mexico, oh Mexico,
Away, Santiano!
Mexico is a place I know,
All along the banks of Mexico! Oh, Oh, Oh
OH! Mexico, oh Mexico
Away, Santiano!
It’s time for us to roll and go
All along the banks of Mexico! Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
The End!
Song Notes
Hugill, in Shanties from the Seven Seas, writes “… they were used as the old-fashioned brake or lever windlasses. Later, as iron ships superseded wooden ones, dispensing with the use of pumps to a very great extent, and upright capstans took the place of the older, horizontal barreled windlasses, these songs were adapted for capstan work, and so they remained to the end of sail.”
He later writes, “Santiana was very popular with whalers, and the fine tune was sung to me by an old Norwegian whaler, Captain Larsen of Magallanes (Punta Arenas).”