Rolling Down to Old Maui

"Rolling Down to Old Maui" (or Mohee) (Roud 2005) is a traditional sea song. It expresses the anticipation of the crew of a whaling vessel of its return to Maui after a season of whaling in the Kamchatka Sea.

Origin
Although the words have been found in records going back to the mid 19th century, there is some dispute about the accuracy and provenance of the melody. The words of "Rolling Down to Old Mohee" have been found in a copybook of a sailor called George Piper, who was on a whaling ship between 1866 and 1872. Similar lyrics were recorded by Joanna Colcord in her collection Roll and Go, Songs of American Sailormen in 1924, where she stated that the melody had been forgotten. She included additional details in the 1938 edition of her book, titled simply Songs of American Sailormen.

Other references point to a version recorded in the journal of the whaling ship Atkins Adams from 1855.

The tune strongly resembles that of the popular 18th-century song "Miller of Dee" and could be derived from it.

Lyrics
It's a damn tough life full of toil and strife We whalermen undergo. And we don't give a damn when the day is done/gale has stopped How hard the winds did blow. 'cause we're homeward bound from the Arctic ground/tis a grand ol' sound With a good ship, taut and free And we won't give a damn when we drink our rum With the girls of Old Maui.

(Chorus) Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys Rolling down to Old Maui We're homeward bound from the Arctic ground Rolling down to Old Maui.

Once more we sail with a northerly gale Towards our island home. Our mainmast sprung, our whaling done, And we ain't got far to roam. Six hellish months have passed away On the cold Kamchatka Sea, But now we're bound from the Arctic ground Rolling down to Old Maui.

Chorus

Once more we sail with a northerly gale Through the ice and wind and rain. Them coconut fronds, them tropical lands We soon shall see again. Our stu'n's'l bones/booms is carried away What care we for that sound? A living gale is after us, Thank God we're homeward bound.

Chorus

How soft the breeze through the island trees, Now the ice is far astern. Them native maids, them tropical glades Is a-waiting our return. Even now their big brown eyes look out Hoping some fine day to see Our baggy sails runnin' 'fore the gales Rolling down to old Maui.

Chorus

We'll heave the lead where old Diamond Head Looms up on old Wahu. Our masts and yards are sheathed with ice And our decks are hid from view. The horrid ice of the sea-caked isles That deck the Arctic sea Are miles behind in the frozen wind Since we steered for Old Maui.

Chorus

(The following verse is seen in some collections and performances of the song, but is not universal:) And now we're anchored in the bay With the Kanakas all around With chants and soft aloha oes They greet us homeward bound. And now ashore we'll have good fun We'll paint them beaches red Awaking in the arms of a wahine With a big fat aching head.

Chorus

Versions
As it is a folk song, it has been performed and recorded by several singers and bands including The Dreadnoughts, David Coffin, Kimber's Men, Todd Rundgren, Don Sineti, Stan Rogers, The Longest Johns, and Jon Boden. Its melody has also been used, in its entirety as well as in part, as the basis for many other folk songs and song parodies, such as "The Light-Ship" by Leslie Fish and "Falling Down on New Jersey" by Mitchell Burnside-Clapp.

Californian folk singer Brian Robertson has recorded an alternate version entitled "Old Maui (from the Whales' Point of View)" on his album Saltchuck Serenade.

"Rolling Down to Old Maui" was recorded by the American quintet Bounding Main and release on their 2005 album Maiden Voyage.