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THE OLD TAR RIVER Lead: Peter

A Georgia Sea Islands chantey used for loading heavy timber into ships.

LYRICS:

Ho, in the old Tar River
Chorus: Oh, ohh, Eve – uhh!
O, Lord, you talkin' 'bout the old Tar River
Chorus: Oh, ohh, talkin' 'bout the river – uhh!

The old Tar River gonna run tomorrow
The old Tar River gonna run tomorrow

I got a letter from Major Bailey
I'm walkin' by the old Tar River

Walk along, hop along, to the old Tar River
Well, the old Tar River run black and dirty

Big Joe and Major Bailey
Said the old Tar River gonna run tomorrow

Way down in the old Tar River
Well, the old Tar River gonna water my cattle

I got a letter from Major Bailey
I'm walkin' by the old Tar River

Walk along, hop along, to the old Tar River
Well, the old Tar River run black and dirty

Way down in the old Tar River
Well, the old Tar River gonna water my cattle

NOTES:

A Georgia Sea Islands hauling chantey used for loading heavy timber into ships. Versions have been recorded by sea islanders John Davis and group, collected by Alan Lomax in 1960, and by the current lineup of The Georgia Sea Island Singers, who we heard at the Sea Music Festival in San Francisco in 2003. Alan Lomax's recording is available on CD on the Rounder Records "Southern Journey" series, titled Earliest Times: Georgia Sea Islands Songs for Everyday Living, www.rounder.com. The Georgia Sea Island Singers latest CD, which another version is found on, is titled "Seh Deh De Cumin," and is available directly from the group at www.gacoast.com/navigator/quimbys.html.