Sloop John B
The Beach Boys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 wanna go home
So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the captain ashore
Let me go home
Let me go home
I wanna go home, yeah, yeah
Well, I feel so broke up
I wanna go home

The first mate, he got drunk
And broke in the captain'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 wanna go home

So hoist up the John B's sail (hoist up the John B's sail)
See how the mainsail sets (see how the mainsail sets)
Call for the captain ashore
Let me go home
Let me go home
I wanna go home
Let me go home (hoist up the John B's sail)
(Why don't you let me go home?)
Hoist up the John B's sail (hoist up the John B's sail)
Feel so broke up
I wanna 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 (hoist up the John B's sail)
See how the mainsail sets (see how the mainsail sets)
Call for the captain ashore
Let me go home
Let me go home




I wanna go home
Let me go home

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' "Sloop John B" is a folk song that was originally recorded by the Bahamas group The Islanders in 1951. The song features the story of a group of sailors, led by the singer and his grandfather, who are looking forward to a night of drinking and revelry in Nassau. However, things take a sour turn when they get into a fight and the first mate, who is drunk, ends up being arrested by Sheriff John Stone. The singer expresses a deep longing to go home and laments the fact that this is the worst trip he has ever been on.


The song is a familiar one, as it speaks to the universal desire to be home among family and friends, even when the going gets tough. The haunting melody and simple, yet powerful storytelling make this a timeless classic that continues to resonate with a wide audience. The song is beloved not only for its catchy tune but for the layers of meaning that can be read into the lyrics. It's a reflection of the human experience that everyone can relate to, regardless of their background and life's experiences.


Line by Line Meaning

We come on the sloop John B
My grandfather and I embark on a journey on this boat named John B


Around Nassau town we did roam
We traveled around Nassau town


Drinking all night
We drank throughout the night


Got into a fight
We got into a physical altercation


Well, I feel so broke up
I am emotionally distressed


I wanna go home
I desire to return home


So hoist up the John B's sail
Raise the sail of the boat named John B


See how the mainsail sets
Observe how the main sail is adjusted


Call for the captain ashore
Summon the captain who is currently on land


Let me go home
Allow me to return home


I wanna go home, yeah, yeah
I really want to go home


Well, I feel so broke up
I am upset


The first mate, he got drunk
The assistant captain drank too much


And broke in the captain's trunk
He broke into the captain's storage container


The constable had to come and take him away
The local law enforcement had to arrest and remove him


Sheriff John Stone
Sheriff John Stone was the law enforcement officer


Why don't you leave me alone? Yeah, yeah
I wish to be left alone


So hoist up the John B's sail (hoist up the John B's sail)
Raise the sail once more


Let me go home
Allow me to return home


Let me go home
I wish to go home


Let me go home (hoist up the John B's sail)
Allow me to return home while simultaneously hoisting the sail


(Why don't you let me go home?)
I wish to return home and feel frustrated by not being able to


Feel so broke up
I am emotionally distressed


The poor cook, he caught the fits
The kitchen staff member became ill


And threw away all my grits
He threw away my food


And then he took and he ate up all of my corn
He ate my other food as well


Why don't they let me go home?
I feel trapped and wish to be allowed to leave


This is the worst trip I've ever been on
This travel experience has been terrible




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Wilson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Philip Kassabian


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