Bound for the Rio Grandewas one of the favourite shanties among outward bound British vessels at anchor capstan or windlass, and it was also popular in American ships.

Of all the songs this is possibly the one with the least variation in tunes.

However the words are a different matter: At least six different sets of verses are listed, which can be mixed-and-matched with six different choruses!

Add to this profusion of versions the choice of pronouncing Rio asRye- oorRee- o, and it becomes virtually impossible to give a "standard" version of the shanty.

The Rio Grande referred to in the song is not that of Mexico (Rio Grande del Norte) , but the one in the southernmost part of Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul). ^[0]

O say was you ever in Rio Grande?

A-weigh, you Rio!

It's there that the river brings down golden sand, For we're bound for the Rio Grande

(Chorus) And away, boys, away.

A-weigh, you Rio!

It's fare-you-well my bonny young girls And we're bound for the Rio Grande

It's fare well to you all the girls of the town.

A-weigh, you Rio!

You got our half-pay for to keep you around, And we're bound for the Rio Grande!

(Chorus) She's a deep water ship and a deep water crew.

A-weigh, you Rio!

You can keep to the coast but we're damned if we do, And we're bound for the Rio Grande!

(Chorus) We was sick of the beach when our money was gone.

A-weigh, you Rio!

And sign in this packet to drive her along, And we're bound for the Rio Grande!

^{[0] [2]}

(Chorus)