"Santianna", also known as "Santiana", "Santy Anna", "Santayana", "Santiano", "Santy Anno" and other variations, is 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.
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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 (or alternatively the Battle of Molino del Rey) is presented as a US rout rather than the Mexican defeat that really occurred.
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 humorous 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
Covers in French-language
Covers in other languages
The English version made famous by Odetta and The Kingston Trio is also about a ship that leaves from Liverpool to California, a wealthy place: "Plenty of gold, So I've Been told, way out in California..." this version is probably about the California Gold Rush - "Back in the days of '49... Way out in California".
There is also a Norwegian version of this song, which it is about a man who sails from Copenhagen to Kristiansand and meets a girl whom he spends a night with. He then has to travel to India, and when he arrives he is handed a letter saying that his Norwegian "friend" is dead. He then sings of how he never returned to Norway, for his Anna is dead. The song is remodeled by Storm Weather Shanty Choir.
Welsh singer-songwriter Meic Stevens recorded a version in which he refers to the Free Wales Army and the influx of English settlers to Wales.
In 2008 German folk-collective Werkraum under leadership by Axel Frank recorded an own adaption of the English original, but using some changes in the verses, reffering to Tory Island instead of Liverpool, probably inspired by a stormy cruise to the coast of Northwest of Ireland plus the historical fact of the massive Irish imigration to America.
References
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