Santianna
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Also, Santiana, Santy Anna, Santayana, Santiano, Santy Anno and others. A sea shanty relating to the Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna. Supposedly, the last whaler to return to New Bedford hauled in to this tune.
Origin
The shanty is popularly supposed to have been started by British seamen who jumped ship to serve with Santa Anna in the Mexican-American War. Tension between the USA and Britain was still high, and Santa Anna became a hero-figure to those countries opposing the US. Some verses, for example those dealing with his death, were added later.
The lyrics themselves are rather economical with historical accuracy; for example, the result of the Battle of Monterrey is presented as a US rout rather than the Mexican defeat that really occurred.
The Lyrics
Santianna is a capstan shanty, and follows a call-and respond pattern. The call is in normal type, and the response is in italics.
- O! Santianna fought for fame!
- Away Santianna!
- And Santianna gained a name
- All on the plains of Mexico!
- Mexico, Mexico,
- Away Santianno!
- Mexico is a place I know!
- All on the plains of Mexico!
- O! Santianna had a wooden leg
- Heave away, Santianna!
- He used it for a cribbage peg
- All on the plains of Mexico!
- Chorus:
- Heave her up, and away we'll go
- Heave away, Santianna!
- Heave her up, and away we'll go
- All on the plains of Mexico'''
- O! Santianna fought for his gold
- Heave away, Santianna!
- The deeds he did have oft been told
- All on the plains of Mexico
- Chorus
- O! Santianna gain'd the day,
- Heave away, Santianna!
- He gain'd the day at Molly-Del-Rey*.
- All on the plains of Mexico
- Chorus
- He won the day at Molly-Del-Rey,
- Heave away, Santianna!
- And General Taylor he ran away.
- All on the plains of Mexico
- Chorus
- O! Santianna fought for his life,
- Heave away, Santianna!
- He gained his way in the terrible strife.
- All on the plains of Mexico
- Chorus
- O! Santianna's men were brave,
- Heave away, Santianna!
- Many found a hero's grave.
- All on the plains of Mexico!
- Chorus
- O! Santianna's day is o'er,
- Heave away, Santianna!
- Santianna will fight no more.
- All on the plains of Mexico!
- Chorus
- O! Santianna's day is gorn,
- Heave away, Santianna!
- We left him buried off Cape Horn.
- All on the plains of Mexico!
- Chorus
- We dug his grave with a golden spade,
- Heave away, Santianna!
- And marked the spot where he was laid.
- All on the plains of Mexico
Other versions
As with all shanties, many versions exist. Most are humourous comments on a sailor's life:
- I thought I heard the Old Man say
- Heave away, Santianna!
- He'd give us grog this very day.
- All on the plains of Mexico
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