{title: Rolling Home}
{artist: Traditional (maritime / capstan)}
{album: Mid-19th-century capstan shanty, sung by British and American sailors heading home from any long voyage; many regional variants}
{key: D}
{tempo: 110}
{difficulty: advanced}
{phase: 4}
{tags: shanty,capstan,traditional,public-domain,harmony,homeward-bound,closer,grand}

{c: A grand homeward-bound capstan shanty — sung when the ship turned for home after months or years away. Full three- or four-part harmony on the chorus. The Mayne Stays' harmony closer for a big night.}
{c: Four chords (D, G, A, Bm). Steady 4/4 capstan, around 100-120 BPM.}

{start_of_verse}
[D]Call all hands to man the [G]capstan
[D]See the cable run down [A]clear
[D]Heave away and with a [G]will boys
For our [D]homeward [A]course we'll [D]steer
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Rolling home, rolling [G]home
[D]Rolling home across the [A]sea
[D]Rolling home to dear [G]old England
[D]Rolling [A]home, dear [D]land, to thee
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]Up aloft amid the [G]rigging
[D]Sings the loud exult[A]ing gale
[D]Strong as springtime in its [G]blossom
[D]Filling [A]out each well-known [D]sail
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Rolling home, rolling [G]home
[D]Rolling home across the [A]sea
[D]Rolling home to dear [G]old England
[D]Rolling [A]home, dear [D]land, to thee
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]Many thousand miles be[G]hind us
[D]Many thousand miles be[A]fore
[D]Ancient ocean [G]heaves to waft us
To the well re[A]membered [D]shore
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Rolling home, rolling [G]home
[D]Rolling home across the [A]sea
[D]Rolling home to dear [G]old England
[D]Rolling [A]home, dear [D]land, to thee
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]Round Cape Horn one [G]frosty morning
[D]And our sails were [A]wet with rain
[D]Hoist the flag at the [G]mast head, boys
[D]Show our [A]proud old [D]name again
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Rolling home, rolling [G]home
[D]Rolling home across the [A]sea
[D]Rolling home to dear [G]old England
[D]Rolling [A]home, dear [D]land, to thee
{end_of_chorus}

{c: ===== HARMONY ARRANGEMENT =====}
{c: The chorus is the harmonic showpiece. Three-part on every chorus, building each time.}
{c: For three parts on D: lead D, mid F#, top A. On G: lead G, mid B, top D. On A: lead A, mid C#, top E. On Bm: lead B, mid D, top F#.}
{c: For local pride, substitute "dear old England" with "dear old Mayne" or "dear old Canada" — both work. Traditional variants include "dear old Yankee," "dear old Boston," etc.}

{c: ===== HOW TO PLAY IT =====}
{c: This is a set-closer. Slow into it from the previous song; let the first chorus build slowly. By the final chorus the whole room is singing.}
{c: Strum: heavy capstan boom-chuck. Mandolin chop on 2 and 4. Bodhrán with a strong downbeat. Whistle takes the chorus melody on instrumental breaks.}
{c: Reference recordings: The Longest Johns; The Boarding Party; Storm Weather Shanty Choir; many traditional collections.}