John, John the Water Man

I went down to Gila Point
To hear master Sheila blow,
John, John, de water man
The fire man below, boy,
John, John, de water man
John, John, de oh.

Break oar, break oar
Me master can' buy more.
John, John, de water man
John, John, below.
Singing John, John, de water man
John, John, below.

I stepped right up to Gila
To hear master Sheila blow.
John, John, de water man
The fire man below, boy,
Singing John, John, de water man
John, John, below.

Broke oar, broke oar
Me master can' buy more.
John, John, de water man
The fire man below, boy,
Singing John, John, de water man
John, John, below.

From Roger Abraham's Deep the Water, Shallow the Shore
Note: Purportedly about a burning of a boat a long time ago off a
point on St. Kitts. "The singers thought Sheila referred to the
wind." A rowing song from small-boat fishermen.

RG