A popular song from 1911.
Words by Edward Madden.
Music by A. Fred Phillips.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Down in the land of the waving palm
Land of the smiling waters calm
Yo ho, yo ho, on old Havana Bay
Late, on a moonlight night, I strayed
Won by the glance of a dark-eyed maid
Yo ho, yo ho, on old Havana Bay
The salt of the sea was deep in me
For I was a sailor, fancy free
I sang my song to the raging main
Till I met this made from Sunny Spain
Yo ho, yo ho, on old Havana Bay
Chorus:
‘Way down on old Havana Bay
We’d watch the silvery moonbeam play
A sailor’s song and a hornpipe dance
A tropic moon and a love-lit glance
One night I stole her heart and ran away
Yo ho, my laddies
Just at the dawning of the day
I heard her calling, far away
You’re not the first to love me, Jack
So I don’t care if you never come back
To old Havana Bay
2. Long were the years till I sailed the seas
Back to the land of mango trees
Yo ho, yo ho, on old Havana Bay
Into the town I wandered far
Lured by the sound of a sweet guitar
Yo ho, yo ho, on old Havana Bay
A flash of her eyes and I grew wise
The same little gal who softly sighs
Oh I’ve been true sweetheart to you
And all the rest of the Navy, too
Yo ho, yo ho, on old Havana Bay