Sea Shanty September: A Drop of Nelson’s Blood

11 Sep Sea Shanty September: A Drop of Nelson’s Blood

Also called “Roll the Chariot,” this shanty is a fan favorite. “A Drop of Nelson’s Blood” is a “walkaway,” “runaway chorus,” or “stamp and go” sea shanty essentially meaning that it is a song that can evolve. Someone can sing the first line of a verse and everyone can chime in. Each time it is sung, the group makes it their own. The name comes from Admiral Nelson. legend has it, His crew preserved his body after his death in Trafalgar in 1805 in a cask of rum. Sailors proceeded to drink that very cask on their voyage home, and colloquially rum became known as “Nelson’s Blood”. Our Crew after an evening sail decided to get together and sing that song with our own spin.

Sing along to these lyrics!

A drop of Nelson's Blood wouldn't do us any harm

A drop of Nelson's Blood wouldn't do us any harm

A drop of Nelson's Blood wouldn't do us any harm

And we all hang on behind

And we roll the old chariot along

We'll roll the old chariot along

We'll roll the old chariot along

And we all hang on behind

We'll be alright if the wind is in our sails

We'll be alright if the wind is in our sails

We'll be alright if the wind is in our sails

And we all hang on behind

And we roll the old chariot along

We'll roll the old chariot along

We'll roll the old chariot along

And we all hang on behind

We'll be alright if we make it round the horn

We'll be alright if we make it round the horn

We'll be alright if we make it round the horn

And we all hang on behind

And we roll the old chariot along

We'll roll the old chariot along

We'll roll the old chariot along

And we all hang on behind

A drop of Nelson's Blood wouldn't do us any harm

A drop of Nelson's Blood wouldn't do us any harm

A drop of Nelson's Blood wouldn't do us any harm

And we all hang on behind