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A Bahamian folk song from Nassau, originally published as "The John B. Sails" in 1916 . Carl Sandburg included a version in his "The American Songbag" in 1927. The Kingston Trio's 1958 recording was titled "The Wreck of the John B" which was an influence in the Beach Boys version of 1966.
Sloop John B
by trad
We [C] come on the Sloop John B, my grandfather and me.
Around Nassau town we did [G7] roam,
Drinking all [C] night, Got into a [F] fight, [Dm]
Well I [C] feel so break up, [G7] I wanta go [C] home.
( Chorus
So [C] hoist up the John B sail, see how the mains’l sets,
Call for the captain ashore, let me go [G7] home.
Let me go [C] home, I wanta go [F] home, [Dm]
Well I [C] feel so break up, [G7] I wanta go [C] home. )
First Mate, he got drunk, broke up the people’s trunk,
Constable had to come and take him away.
Sheriff John Stone, why don’t you leave me alone?
Well I feel so break up, I wanta go home.
Chorus
The poor cook he caught the fits, threw away all my grits,
Then he took and ate up all of my corn.
Let me go home, I wanta go home,
This is the worst trip I’ve ever been on.
Chorus
Around Nassau town we did [G7] roam,
Drinking all [C] night, Got into a [F] fight, [Dm]
Well I [C] feel so break up, [G7] I wanta go [C] home.
( Chorus
So [C] hoist up the John B sail, see how the mains’l sets,
Call for the captain ashore, let me go [G7] home.
Let me go [C] home, I wanta go [F] home, [Dm]
Well I [C] feel so break up, [G7] I wanta go [C] home. )
First Mate, he got drunk, broke up the people’s trunk,
Constable had to come and take him away.
Sheriff John Stone, why don’t you leave me alone?
Well I feel so break up, I wanta go home.
Chorus
The poor cook he caught the fits, threw away all my grits,
Then he took and ate up all of my corn.
Let me go home, I wanta go home,
This is the worst trip I’ve ever been on.
Chorus