Santianna

Origin

The theme of the shanty, which dates from at least the 1850s, may have been inspired by topical events in the news related to conflicts between the armies of Mexico, commanded by Antonio López de Santa Anna, and the U.S., commanded by Zachary Taylor, in the Mexican-American War.

The lyrics are not historically accurate: for example, both the Battle of Monterrey and the Battle of Molino del Rey (different versions refer to one or other) were US victories, not Mexican ones. Some suggest that this tradition was caused by British sailors, who deserted their ships to join Santa Anna's forces.

Lyrics

As with many shanties, there are many recorded variations on the words and tunes, which may have developed on particular shipping lines - and the shantymen who led the shanties would make up their own versions as they went along, many of which were never recorded.

Shantyman and shanty collector Stan Hugill wrote that "Santianna" was originally a pump shanty, but became a popular capstan shanty as wooden ships were replaced by iron in the common call and response form.

Part of one of Hugill's versions is below

The call is in normal type and the response is in italics.

O! Santianna gained the dayAway Santianna!And Santianna gained the dayAll across the plains of Mexico!He gain'd the day at Molly-Del-Rey*.Away SantiannaAn' General Taylor ran awayAll across the plains of MexicoAll of his men were brave an' true.Away SantiannaEver soldier brave and trueAll across the plains of MexicoOh Santiana fought for fameAway SantiannaAn' Santiana gained a nameAll across the plains of Mexico*Monterrey or Molino del Rey

Hugill states that there were many variations in the refrain, including:

First refrain:

Heave and weigh SantianaHooray SantianaAnd away SantianaHooraw boys, hooraw hoHoroo Santy Ana'Way Santiana

Second refrain

Heave away, hurra for roll-an'-goAll on the plains of MexicoHeave an' weigh, we're bound for MexicoAll across the plains of MexicoAll along the shores of MexicoAlong the plains of MexicoOn the banks and plains of MexicoAround the Bay o' MexicoAll along the coasts of MexicoUpon the plains of Mexico

Alan Lomax published a completely different version, that he heard from a sailor called J.M. Hunt in 1935

We're sailing down the river from LiverpoolHeave away Santy AnnoAround Cape Horn to Frisco BayAll on the plains of Mexico

Chorus

She's a clipper fast ship and a bully good crewHeave away, Santy AnnoA down-east Yankee for her captain, tooAll on the plains of Mexico

In the 1950s and 1960s, shanties became popularised as part of the American folk music revival and British folk revival, and Santianna became part of the musical repertoire of musicians including Paul Clayton and The Clancy Brothers.

Sometimes there is an additional chorus or bridge, after A. L. Lloyd:

Mexico oh MexicoHurray Santy AnoOh Mexico where I must goAll on the plains of Mexico

Covers in English

One English version recorded by both Odetta (1956) and The Kingston Trio (1958) is about a ship that leaves from Liverpool to California "Plenty of gold, So I've Been told, way out in California". The Weavers album The Weavers at Home (1958) describes a journey from Boston to California. These versions, are probably about the California Gold Rush and based on Lomax's version

Covers in French

"Santiano" was written in 1961 by Hugues Aufray and refers to a ship leaving Saint Malo bound to San Francisco, described as a wealthy place. It became very popular and has inspired several cover versions including the reality show Star Academy in 2005.

Covers in Welsh

A Welsh language cover of Santiana was recorded by Welsh folk singer Meic Stevens in 1969. It remained unreleased until 2002, when it was released on the Disgwyl Rhywbeth Gwell i Ddod compilation. Stevens' version of the song contains references to contemporary events in Wales such as the incarceration of Free Wales Army soldiers in 1969. This version has also inspired recent cover versions of the song by Alun Gaffey, Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog and Iwcs a Gaff.

Covers in other languages

In 2008, German folk-collective Werkraum under leadership by Axel Frank recorded their own adaption of the English original using some changes in the verses, referring to Tory Island instead of Liverpool, probably inspired by a stormy cruise to the north-west coast of Ireland and the historical Irish immigration to America.

In 2012, the German group Santiano recorded a new version of this song. The group has had much success, and received an Echo for their first album containing Santiano as well as other shanties.

There is a Norwegian version of this song about a man who sails from Copenhagen to Kristiansand and meets a girl with whom he spends a night. He then has to travel to India and, when he arrives, he is handed a letter saying that his Norwegian friend is dead. He never returned to Norway for his Anna is dead. The song is remodeled by Storm Weather Shanty Choir.

There is a version in Icelandic, called "Fulla ferð Santíanó" ("Full Ahead Santiano"), a seaman's story about sailing home after days at sea, written by Siggi Björns an Icelandic musician and an ex-fisherman. This version was recorded and realised on a CD with a band called"Æfing" from a small fishing town, Flateyri, in the Icelandic Westfjords.