Santianna
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"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.
[edit] 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 is presented as a US rout rather than the Mexican defeat that really occurred.
[edit] The 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
[edit] 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
There is a French version of the song, although this uses the same tune it refers to a ship named Santiano, and a Malouin's voyage round the Horn to San Francisco. The most well-known version is by Hugues Aufray.
