This is a sailing song from the 17th century Caribbean area where ships were often manned by what were referred to as "checkerboard crews," a combination of white, African and Indian sailors, both free and indentured. The chantey was written about a West Indies slave whose talent for escaping became legendary. It is a good example of a short-haul or loading song, the songs used when loading and unloading cargo. The influence of fieldworker and slave history can been heard in both the music and the lyrics.
Lyrics
John Cherokee was an Indian man,
Alabama John Cherokee
He run away whenever he can,
Alabama John Cherokee
Chorus:
Way Hey Oh, Alabama John Cherokee
Way Hey Oh, Alabama John Cherokee
They put him aboard a whalin' ship
Again he gave the boss the slip
They catch him again and tie him up tight
Put him in the dark without any light
Nothing to drink and nothing to eat
He just fall dead at the captain's feet
They bury him by the old gatepost
Very same day you can see his ghost
The break of day he goes below
That is when the cocks do crow
