DESCRIPTION:
We learned our version of the tune from Roe Family fiddler, Ric Lee.

The words are a mishmash of words I remember hearing and reading in various versions and a verse I made up. As "Sail Away Ladies" is a branch on the "Sally Ann" song tree (see below), when I had trouble getting the common Uncle Dave Macon words, "Don't you rock 'em, di-de-o," out, our friend, fiddler Jake Hyer--from both Pocahontas county, West By God Virginia, and the band Pocahontas County--suggested singing, "I'm going home with Sally Ann," instead, and it stuck.

Stewie on MUDCAT says: "Here is the entry from Fiddler's Companion site: SAIL AWAY LADIES [1A]. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Kentucky, Tennessee. G Major. Standard. ABB (Brody, Ford): AABB (Spandaro): AABBCC (Phillips). The tune is related to the numerous versions of "Sally Ann" played in the keys of A and G Major. According to Guthrie Meade (1980), the tune is identified with the south central Kentucky and middle Tennessee locals. The title also appears in a list of the standard tunes in the square dance fiddler's repertoire, according to A.B. Moore in his 1934 book "History of Alabama." Southern Kentucky fiddler Henry L. Bandy recorded the tune for Gennett in 1928, though it was unissued, however, the earlest recordings were Uncle Bunt Stevens (1926-without words) and Uncle Dave Macon (1927-with words). Paul Wells (Middle Tennessee State University) states that the song was collected around the turn of the 20th century and seems to have been common to both black and white traditions."