Roll the Old Chariot Along
In Harmony's Way Lyrics


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We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
And we'll all fall in behind

We'd be alright if we 'ad a drop of rum
We'd be alright if we 'ad a drop of rum
We'd be alright if we 'ad a drop of rum
And we'll all fall in behind

We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
And we'll all fall in behind

We'd be alright if yah buggers all would sing
We'd be alright if yah buggers all would sing
We'd be alright if yah buggers all would sing
And we'll all fall in behind

We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
And we'll all fall in behind

If the devils in the road we'll roll it over him
If the devils in the road we'll roll it over him
If the devils in the road we'll roll it over him
And we'll all fall in behind

We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
And we'll all fall in behind

We'll be alright when the skipper's in his grave
We'll be alright when the skipper's in his grave
We'll be alright when the skipper's in his grave
And we'll fall in behind

We'll roll the old chariot along
And we'll all fall in behind





End

Overall Meaning

The song "Roll the Old Chariot Along" is a traditional sea shanty that originated among sailors in the 19th century. The lyrics describe a group of sailors who are working together to move a heavy object, possibly a chariot. The repetitive chorus "We'll roll the old chariot along" serves as a call to action, encouraging the sailors to work together to accomplish their task. The verse lyrics are often improvised by different singers or groups of singers, leading to variations in the song over time.


The lyrics suggest that the sailors would benefit from a drop of rum and some singing to lift their spirits and help them work more efficiently. The line "If the devil's in the road we'll roll it over him" indicates that the sailors are determined to overcome any obstacles they may encounter. The final verse, which states that the sailors will be alright once the skipper is dead, may reflect a sense of rebellion or resentment towards authority figures within the sailor's community.


Line by Line Meaning

We'll Roll the Old Chariot Along
We'll keep moving forward


We'd be alright if we 'ad a drop of rum
We need some alcohol to make us feel better


And we'll all fall in behind
We'll stick together and follow each other's lead


We'd be alright if yah buggers all would sing
We need everyone to sing and lift our spirits up


If the devils in the road we'll roll it over him
No matter what obstacle comes our way, we'll overcome it


We'll be alright when the skipper's in his grave
We'll finally be okay when the person causing us trouble is gone


And we'll fall in behind
We'll continue to support each other


We'll roll the old chariot along
We'll keep pushing forward together until we reach our destination




Contributed by Addison P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@LuckyApplehead

holy crap his voice is so manly. 

@TheBobberWCC

Something about a lot of people singing makes things so epic

@MrDuckAlmighty

the energy this creates...

@MarioLoco03

This makes me want to get drunk and sing with friends.

@dalecheck4455

I watched this about a dozen times now! I LOVE this guy's energy, and the song! Wish we did things like this more often.

@musicdragonmountain2911

Every time I hear David's voice with the crowd, I get chills. Why is he not famous all around the world?

@dewar01

Epic voice, what a legend.

@Diek454

If I was randomly walking down the streets of New Hampshire... for some reason... and I came across these people singing sea shanty's in the middle of a thoroughfare I would instantly fall in love for New Hampshire. In fact I think I already have.

@pugwashsecond

So wonderful to hear someone giving a shanty 100% instead of the tarty choral versions that crop up for much of the time.

@junkanoopunch

10/10 would plunder & pillage with again.

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