About The Song
“Sloop John B” is a traditional Bahamian folk song, adapted and recorded by The Beach Boys, with lyrics and arrangement credited to Brian Wilson. Released on March 21, 1966, as a single on Capitol Records, it became a major hit, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 in the UK.
The song was recorded at United Western Recorders in Hollywood, produced by Brian Wilson, with the band’s lineup including Brian on keyboards, Carl Wilson on guitar, and Al Jardine on lead vocals. The track runs 2:57 and was later included on the album Pet Sounds, released on May 16, 1966.
The lyrics recount a troubled sea voyage, with lines like “We come on the sloop John B, my grandfather and me,” adapted from the folk tune “The John B. Sails.” Brian Wilson reimagined the song with rich harmonies and a modern pop arrangement, drawing from his fascination with complex vocal layering.
The recording featured an elaborate production, with The Wrecking Crew providing support, including Hal Blaine on drums and a string section arranged by Wilson. The song’s use of harpsichord and layered vocals marked a significant evolution from their earlier surf sound.
Upon release, “Sloop John B” achieved widespread success, spending nine weeks in the Top 10 and helping to establish Pet Sounds as a groundbreaking album. It was later featured in the 1974 compilation Endless Summer and the 1993 box set Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys.
The Beach Boys, formed in 1961 by the Wilson brothers, promoted the single with TV appearances on shows like The Ed Sullivan Show. The music video, though not officially released in 1966, includes color footage from a 1966 performance, later compiled in retrospectives.
The track has been covered by artists like Johnny Cash and featured in films like Forrest Gump (1994). It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001, recognized for its role in bridging folk traditions with innovative pop production.
Video
Lyric
We come on the sloop John B
My grandfather and me
Around Nassau town we did roam
Drinking all night
Got into a fight
Well, I feel so broke up
I wanna go homeSo 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, yeahWell, I feel so broke up
I wanna go homeThe 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 homeSo 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
Let me go homeThe cook, he could not cook that day
And the grub, it was a little bit gray
We had to eat our meal today
With a little can of woah
Well, I feel so broke up
I wanna go homeSo 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
Let me go homeYeah, yeah
Well