Sloop John B
beach boys [the] Lyrics
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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
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
The song “Sloop John B” by The Beach Boys tells the story of a disastrous sailing trip on the titular vessel, and the singer’s desire to return home. The song opens with a description of the singer and their grandfather arriving in Nassau, Bahamas (presumably on the Sloop John B) and drinking heavily, which leads to a fight. The singer is then overcome with a desire to go home, and begs for the ship’s captain to allow them to do so. The first mate gets drunk and causes trouble, leading to their arrest, while the cook ruins the singer’s food. Throughout the song, the refrain repeats the desire to go home, highlighting the singer’s yearning for familiar comforts and an end to their distressing situation.
One possible interpretation of “Sloop John B” is that it functions as a metaphor for the experience of being trapped in a difficult or unpleasant situation. The lyrics describe a feeling of intense longing to escape, and the various mishaps that befall the ship and its crew could be read as stand-ins for any number of unexpected obstacles that arise when one is attempting to navigate life’s challenges. Additionally, the song’s emphasis on home and the comfort it represents could be interpreted as a message of hope, suggesting that even in the midst of difficulty, there is still a possibility of finding a way back to a place of safety and security.
Line by Line Meaning
We come on the Sloop John B
My grandfather and I are on the ship named Sloop John B
Around Nassau town we did roam
We wandered around the town of Nassau
Drinking all night
We spent the entire night drinking alcohol
Got into a fight
We got into a physical altercation
Well I feel so broke up
I feel extremely distressed
I want to go home
I want to leave this place and go back home
So hoist up the John B's sail
Raise the sails of the ship named John B
See how the main sail sets
Observe how the main sail is positioned
Call for the Captain ashore
Request the captain to come to the shore
Let me go home, let me go home
Allow me to return home
I want to go home, yeah yeah
I really want to go back home
The first mate he got drunk
The assistant to the captain drank too much alcohol
And broke in the Cap'n's trunk
He forcefully opened the captain’s trunk
The constable had to come and take him away
The law enforcement officer had to arrest him
Sheriff John Stone
The name of the sheriff is John Stone
Why don't you leave me alone, yeah yeah
Please stop bothering me
Well I feel so broke up, I want to go home
I am really upset and I want to go back home
The poor cook he caught the fits
The cook became ill
And threw away all my grits
He disposed of all my grits
And then he took and he ate up all of my corn
He consumed all of my corn
Why don't they let me go home
I am wondering why I am not allowed to leave and go back home
This is the worst trip I've ever been on
This is the most terrible journey I have ever had
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tarantulisimo
Brian Wilson – lead and backing vocals
Mike Love – lead and backing vocals
Dennis Wilson – backing vocals
Al Jardine – backing vocals
Carl Wilson – backing vocals
Bruce Johnston — backing vocals
Hal Blaine – drums
Frank Capp – glockenspiel
Al Casey – acoustic rhythm guitar
Jerry Cole – 12-string lead guitar
Steve Douglas – temple blocks
Carol Kaye – electric bass
Al De Lory – tack piano
Jay Migliori – flute
Jim Horn – flute
Jack Nimitz – bass saxophone
Lyle Ritz – string bass
Billy Strange – 12-string lead guitar, overdubbed 12-string lead guitars
Tony (surname unknown) – tambourine
Chuck Britz – engineer
Brian Wilson -- arrangement of traditional "The John B. Sails"
Brian Wilson -- producer
The Kingston Trio -- musical inspiration
@bobbybob2573
The Beach Boys
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
Songwriters: Brian Wilson
Sloop John B lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
@mvader7188
I always thought the men who went to Vietnam probably heard this song and thought "yeah I wanna go home.." and "this is definitely the worst trip I ever been on.."
@Triumph2024.
good empathetic imagination; you're prolly right.
@glenmcgregor3366
Arrived in country Dec. 67. Finally got on the bird June 70. This song played in my head every minute.
@roisindubh02
@Glen McGregor " Thank you for your service, and your sacrifices.
@UglyApprentice
Glen McGregor we’re you drafted or volunteered?
@ronbow1947
Absolutely
@superpuggus8594
Without Pet Sounds, then no Sgt Pepper. And without Rubber Soul, no Pet Sounds. I love both the Beatles and the Beach Boys, and love how both created great music
@flemingcourt
Art is derivative.
@dogshitonastick4008
You know your sheet brother 👍🏻
@thewal1ofsleep
Even though recording began before Sgt Pepper came out, I still wonder if Days of Future Passed would have been the same album without Sgt Pepper and Pet Sounds.