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Roll Out! Heave Dat Cotton

Song performed by: Dean Potter and Leslie Beukelman (vocals) and Tara Dirst (piano). Recording engineer: Matt Dotson.

Will S. Hays

I hear dat bell a-ringing,
I see de Captain stand,
Boat done blow'd her whistle,
I know she's gwine to land.
I hear de mate a callin',
"Go git out the plank,
Rush out wid de headline,
An' tie her to de bank."

CHORUS.
Roll out! heave dat cotton
Roll out! heave dat cotton
Roll out! heave dat cotton,
ain't got long to stay.

2. It's early in de morning,
Before we see de sun,
"Roll aboard dat cotton,
An' get back in a run."
De Captain's in a hurry,
I know what he means,
Wants to beat de Sherlock,
Down to New Orleans.

CHORUS.

3. I heard dat mate a-shouting,
An' see him on de shore,
"Hurry boys! be lively,
Ain't but fifty more."
We ain't got time to tarry,
Here at dis cotton pile,
We gwine to git annoder,
Below here forty miles.

CHORUS.