John B. Sails

Rise Up Singing:

Sea

p. 203

Alternate Title:

Sloop John B.

First Line:

We sailed on the sloop John B, my grandfather and me

Artist & Tune

Composed by:

Lee Hays

Rec/Performed by:

The Weavers

Reference

Genre:

composed folk US

About the Song

While the Rise Up Singing version may be attributed to Lee Hays of the Weavers, "Sloop John B" (originally published as "The John B. Sails") is a Bahamian folk song from Nassau. One early print version was published in 1916, and Carl Sandburg included a version in his 1927 "American Songbag."