Sloop John B Lyrics

[Verse 1: Brian Wilson]
We come on the sloop John B
My grandfather and me
Around Nassau town we did roam
Drinkin' all night
Got into a fight
Well, I feel so broke up

I wanna go home

[Chorus: Brian Wilson & Mike Love]
So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the captain ashore, let me go home
Let me go home
I wanna go home, yeah, yeah
Well, I feel so broke up
I wanna go home

[Verse 2: Mike Love]
The first mate, he got drunk
And broke in the captain's trunk
The constable had to come and take him away
Sheriff John Stone
Why don't you leave me alone? Yeah, yeah
Well, I feel so broke up
I wanna go home
[Chorus: Whole Group]
So hoist up the John B's sail (Hoist up the John B's sail)
See how the mainsail sets (See how the mainsail sets)
Call for the captain ashore, let me go home
Let me go home, I wanna go home
Let me go home (Hoist up the John B's sail)
Hoist up the John B (Hoist up the John B)
I feel so broke up
I wanna go home, let me go home

[Verse 3: Brian Wilson, Mike Love]
The poor cook, he caught the fits
And threw away all my grits
And then he took and he ate up all of my corn
Let me go home
Why don't they let me go home?
This is the worst trip I've ever been on

[Chorus: All]
So hoist up the John B's sail (Hoist up the John B's sail)
See how the mainsail sets (See how the mainsail sets)
Call for the captain ashore, let me go home
Let me go home, I wanna go home
Let me go home

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About

Genius Annotation

“Sloop John B” is the seventh track on The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album and was also a single which was released in 1966 on Capitol Records.

It was originally a traditional West Indies folk song, “The John B. Sails,” taken from a collection by Carl Sandburg (1927).

The Beach Boys version of “Sloop John B.” was ranked #271 (#276 in the 2017 version) on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

While the song’s music exhibits the typical surfer vibes the Beach Boys are known for, its lyrical content sheds a rather critical light on the tropical island motive often implemented and glorified by the band in their songs. This possible self-reflection ties in with the general theme of melancholy throughout the album, showing a more mature approach to life and to song-writing.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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