The Beach Boys – Sloop John B

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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 main sail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I want to go home, yeah yeah
Well I feel so broke up
I want to 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 want to go home

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

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Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 03:00

"Sloop John B" as written by Nole Edwards, Don Wilson, Bob Bogle, Melvin Taylor

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Sloop John B song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:This song is based on an traditional West Indies folk song "The John B. Sails".

    Only a few lines were changed by the Beach Boys, and the music was 'rocked' up for their version (as it was previously done predominantly by folk artists).

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
    Flag sokornyon January 28, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Love this song so much, and Pet Sounds is pure bliss. "God only knows what I'd be without you"
    Flag DCBA25on October 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Being trapped somewhere awful always gets this song in my head. And then it reminds me of Touching the Void, wherein Joe can't get Boney M's Brown Girl in the Ring out of his head. Perhaps Sloop John B will play on my deathbed? I think I'd like that. I think I just decided it's my funeral song.
    Flag sweetadeleiiineon August 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love how this song tells a story, and I just love the harmonies. Definately quite a change from some of their other music. No beach party in this song!
    Flag Brunicason December 04, 2008   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:I love the way every football crowd seem to sing a version of this nowadays.
    Flag natpon September 01, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The Pet sounds album is probably the greatest album ever created. Sloop john B is one of the best songs on this albu simply because of how it starts and ends. It begins so simple and by the end it seems so complex, instrumentally, vocally musically in general. Everything about how it flows into itself and seems so effortless. However, during every new stanza they add a new sound and by the end you seem so overwhelmed instrumentally that it's hard to focus on the lyrics and the music. The harmonizing is incredible too just like in every Beach Boys album. Definitly a great song, hands down one of the greatest albums ever.
    Flag Lookout42on January 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Relient K rocks!!!
    Flagged Xaq27on January 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I've loved The Beach Boys since I was about three. I saw them in concert, when I was nine. I just had this song in my head. The Beach Boys are so awesome.

    To previous comments, I personally dislike rap. More of an alternatey-retro 70's bands [go The Police! The Beatles! The Rolling Stones!] person.

    Flag ohsoMODon November 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Check out the version that RELIENT K did live, they harmonize like no other!

    youtube.com/…=
    Flag googlymoogly111on August 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is an old sea shanty, originally titled "The John B's Sails." For more information, see Roger McGuinn's (yes, THE Roger McGuinn from the Byrds) excellent Folk Den entry on it, here:
    ibiblio.org/jimmy/folkden-wp/
    Flag Bluewaveson June 21, 2007   Link

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