April 2023 “Roll the Old Chariot Along/Drop of Nelson’s Blood”

This months shanty is one of our favorites! Known as both “Roll the Old Chariot Along” and “Drop of Nelson’s Blood”, the tune originates from Black spirituals in the 19th century. The modern version is a great example of a “stamp and go” shanty, meaning that it was used whenever a steady supply of labor was needed on the ship. Verses could be added as long as necessary to complete the job.

So where does the “Drop of Nelson’s Blood” part come from? Strangely enough, this part is actually about rum/grog! The legend stems from Horatio Nelson, a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. Following his victory and death at the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson’s body was preserved in a cask of brandy in order for him to be transported back to England. One part of this tale is that the sailor’s learned of this and drank the preservative…gross?