Sloop John B

Original Album

Pet Sounds

Single

Sloop John B / You're So Good To Me

Written By

Traditional, arranged by Brian Wilson

Produced By

Brian Wilson

Lead Vocals

Brian and Mike

Recorded On

track: December 7, 1965; vocals: December 22, 1965

Length

2:58

Notes

Recorded at Western Studios
Folk music fan Al suggested to Brian that the Beach Boys cover this song
Apparently Brian felt this didn't fit on Pet Sounds and only included at Capitol's insistence. The fact that Pet Sounds has 13, instead of the usual 12 tracks, supports this theory. However, the great vocals and lyrical theme mean that many feel it is not out of place there (although it is arguably the weakest track).

Lyrics: We come on the sloop John B
My grandfather and me
Around Nassau town we did roam
Drinking all night
Got into a fight
Well I feel so broke up
I want to go home

So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, yeah yeah
Well I feel so broke up
I wanna go home

The first mate he got drunk
And broke in the Cap'n's trunk
The constable had to come and take him away
Sheriff John Stone
Why don't you leave me alone, yeah yeah
Well I feel so broke up I wanna go home

So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, let me go home
Why don't you let me go home
(Hoist up the John B's sail)
Hoist up the John B
I feel so broke up I wanna go home
Let me go home

The poor cook he caught the fits
And threw away all my grits
And then he took and he ate up all of my corn
Let me go home
Why don't they let me go home
This is the worst trip I've ever been on

So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, let me go home
Why don't you let me go home

Chords: (original key: Ab)

..........G
We come on the sloop John B my grandfather and me
.................................................D
Around Nassau town we did roam
........................G.......................C....Am
Drinking all night got into a fight
.............G........................D.....................G
Well I feel so broke up I want to go home

........G
So hoist up the John B's sail, see how the mainsail sets
...................................................................D
Call for the Captain ashore, let me go home
.....................G.............................C...............Am
Let me go home, I wanna go home, yeah yeah
..............G.......................D..................G
Well I feel so broke up I wanna go home

.........G
The first mate he got drunk and broke in the Cap'n's trunk
........................................................................D
The constable had to come and take him away
..........................G.................................................C..............Am
Sheriff John Stone, why don't you leave me alone, yeah yeah
.............G........................D...................G
Well I feel so broke up I wanna go home

.........G
The poor cook he caught the fits and threw away all my grits
......................................................................D
And then he took and he ate up all of my corn
....................G...................................................C......Am
Let me go home, why don't they let me go home
........G.........................D......................G
This is the worst trip I've ever been on

Chart prepared by Francis Greene

Sheet Music

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