1
Sea Chanteys and Other Nautical Songs
Alabama ................................................. 2
All For Me Grog .................................... 2
Away, Rio!.............................................. 2
Blow the Man Down .............................. 2
Boston Harbor ........................................ 3
Bully in the Alley ................................... 3
Congo River ........................................... 3
The Dead Horse ..................................... 4
The Derby Ram ...................................... 4
Donkey Riding ....................................... 4
Essequibo River ..................................... 5
Fathom The Bowl .................................. 5
General Taylor........................................ 5
Get Up Jack, John Sit Down .................. 5
Hangin' Johnny ...................................... 6
Haul Away Joe ....................................... 6
High Barbary .......................................... 6
A Hundred Years Ago ............................ 7
John Kanaka-naka .................................. 7
Leave Her Johnny .................................. 7
Liverpool Judies ..................................... 8
The Mermaid .......................................... 8
New York Girls ...................................... 8
Paddy Doyle’s Boots .............................. 9
Paddy Lay Back ..................................... 9
Pleasant and Delightful .......................... 9
Pump Me Boys ..................................... 10
Roll the Old Chariot Along .................. 10
Rolling Down to Old Maui .................. 10
Sailor’s Prayer (Tom Lewis) ................... 11
Sam's Gone Away ................................. 11
The Shanghaied Dredger ...................... 11
Six Feet of Mud (Cyril Tawney) .......... 12
South Australia ..................................... 12
Spanish Ladies ...................................... 12
Strike the Bell ....................................... 13
Sugar in the Hold Below ...................... 13
Twiddles (Janie Meneely) .................... 13
Whiskey, O, Johnny, O ......................... 14
Wild Rover ........................................... 14
Credits: ................................................. 14
Light From The Lighthouse .................15
The Diamond .......................................15
Whiskey in the Jar ................................16
Come for to Sing ..................................16
Rosabella ..............................................17
Blowed and Torn ..................................17
We're Here to Drink the Whiskey ..18 & 20
Molly Malone .......................................18
Wild Mountain Thyme .........................18
Lock Lomond .......................................19
I'm A Rover ..........................................19
Mist Covered Mountains of Home ......20
Parting Glass ........................................20
Health to the Company ........................21
Last Skipjack .......................................21
The Mingalay Boat Song .....................21
One for the Morning Glory ..................21
Sailor's Hymn ......................................22
The Saucy Roseabella ..........................22
Sloop John B ........................................22
Yankee Doodle (1812 Version) ...........22
2
Alabama
Away, Rio!
Oh, the Alabama's keel was laid Roll Alabama, roll
She was built in the yard of Jonathan Laird
For we're bound for the Rio Grande!
And it’s away, Rio! Aye, Rio!
So fare thee well my pretty young girls
For we're bound for the Rio Grande!
Oh, roll Alabama, roll
Away down the Mersey she rolled one day
And across the "Western" she ploughed her way
With British guns, oh, she was stocked
She sailed from Fayal, in Cherbourg she docked
To fight the North Semmes did employ
Any method to kill and destroy
But off Cherbourg the Kearsage lay tight
Awaiting was Winslow to start a good fight
Outside the three mile limit they fought
And Semmes escaped on a fine British yacht
The Kearsage won - Alabama so brave
Sank to the bottom of a watery grave
The anchor is weighed and the sails they are set, Away, Rio!
The gals we are leaving we'll never forget,
So it's pack up your donkey and get under way,
The girls we are leaving can take our half pay.
We’re heading our ship out over the bar
We’re charting our course by the bright Southern Star
Sing good bye to Nellie and good bye to Sue
And you who are listening, good bye to you
Heave only one pawl, then 'vast heavin', belay!
Heave steady, because we say farewell today.
Blow the Man Down
All For Me Grog
And it's all for me grog, Me noggin, noggin grog,
All gone for beer and tobacco,
For I spent all me tin on the lassies, drinking gin,
And across the Western Ocean I must wander.
And where are me shoes, Me noggin, noggin shoes?
All gone for beer and tobacco,
I'm a blue water sailor just back from Hong Kong
Way, hey, blow the man down
If you give me some whiskey I'll sing you a song
Give me some time to blow the man down
As I was a-walkin' down Paradise Street
A dashing young damsel I chanced for to meet
For the soles is all wore out, And the tops is knocked about,
She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow
So I took in all sail and cried, "Way enough now."
And where is me shirt, Me noggin, noggin shirt?
For the buttons all wore out, And the cuffs is knocked about,
And the tails is looking out for better weather!
I hailed her in English and I hailed her all round
I hauled up alongside and asked where she was bound
And the heels is looking out for better weather!
And where is me pants ,Me noggin, noggin pants?
For the knees is all wore out And the seat is knocked about,
And my arse is looking out for better weather!
And what of me bed, Me noggin, noggin bed?
For I lent it to a whore, Now the mattress is all tore,
And the springs is looking out for better weather!
She said to me, "Sir, will you stand a treat?"
"Delighted," says I, "For a charmer so sweet."
So I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow
And yard-arm to yard-arm away we did go
It was up in her quarters she piped me aboard
And there on her bed I cut loose with my sword
Ah, but just as my cutter was forging ahead
She shouted, "My husband!" and jumped out of bed
3
He was seven feet tall, had a chest like a horse
And straight for my jawbone he plotted his course
Bully in the Alley
He loosened my rigging, he kicked in my stays
I flew down the stairs like a ship on the ways
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley,
Bully down in Shnbone al!
I chanced on a packet that happened on by
And when I awoke I was bound for Shanghai
Well, Sally is the girl down that I love dearly,
So come all you young laddies that follow the sea
Don't never take heed of what pretty girls say.
Boston Harbor
From Boston harbor we set sail
And the wind was blowin' the devil of a gale
With the ring-tail set all about the mizzen peak
And the dolphin striker plowin' up the deep
With a big bow wow, tow row row
Fal dee rall dee di do day.
Then up steps the skipper from down below
And he looks aloft, boys, and he looks alow
And he looks alow and he looks aloft
And it's tighten up your ropes, boys, fore and aft.
Then it's down to his cabin he quickly falls
To his poor old steward then he bawls
"Fix me a glass that will make me cough
'Cause it's better weather here than it is up aloft."
While it's we poor seamen that are up on the decks
With the blasted rain falling down our necks
And not a drop of grog will he afford
For he damns our eyes with every other word.
Now there's just one thing we all do crave
That he will find a watery grave
We will heave him down into some dark hole
Where the sharks'll have his body and the Devil have his soul.
Now the old bugger is dead and gone
And damn his eyes, he's left a son
And if to us he doesn't prove frank
We'll very soon make him walk the plank.
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Sally is the girl that I spliced nearly.
Bully down in shinbone al!
For seven long years I courted Sally,
All she did was dilly-dally.
Sally she’s a Badian beauty!
She’s a girl what know her duty
I'll leave Sal and I'll become a sailor,
I'll leave Sal and ship aboard a whaler.
When I get back, I’ll mary Sally!
We’ll have kids and mark ‘em by the tally!
Congo River
Was you never down the Congo River,
Blow, boys, blow;
Where the fever makes the white man shiver,
Blow, me bully boys, blow.
Yonder comes a Yankee packet
She fires her guns, don't you hear the racket
Oh, how do you know she's a Yankee clipper?
Why, her masts and yards, they shine like silver
Oh, what do you think the crew eats for dinner?
Oh, a monkey's arse and a sandfly's liver
And who do you think is the skipper of her?
Oh, a blackjack slave, the bowery runner
And what do you think they get for supper?
Oh, a punch in the mouth and a roll in the scuppers
4
The Dead Horse
A poor old man came riding by
And we say so, and we hope so
They say old man your horse will die,
Oh, poor old horse.
For thirty days I've ridden him,
And when he dies we'll tan his skin,
The butcher who killed this ram, sir, was up to his knees in blood
And the boy who told the tale, sir, was carried away with the
flood
The crew of the Resolution are handsome, strong and brave,
The smartest lot of sailors that ever sailed over the wave!
Donkey Riding
And if he lives, I'll ride him again,
I'll ride him with a tighter rein
Way Hey and away we go Donkey riding, donkey riding
Way Hey and away we go Riding on a donkey.
We'll use the hair of his tail to sew our sails
And the iron of his shoe to make deck nails
Were you ever in Quebec Stowin' timber on the deck?
Where ye'd break yer bleedin' neck
We'll hoist him up to the fore yard-arm
Where he won't do sailors any harm
We'll drop him down with a long, long roll
Where the sharks will have his body and the Devil take his
soul.
It's up aloft the horse must go,
We'll hoist him up and bury him low.
He’s dead as a nail in the lamproom door
He’s dead as a nail, the son of a whore.
The Derby Ram
As I was going to Derby, 'twas on a market day
I met the finest ram, sirs, that ever was fed upon hay
Riding on a donkey!
Were you ever off the Horn Where it's always fine and warm?
Where's there's a lion and a unicorn
Riding on a donkey.
Wuz ye ever down Mobile Bay Screwin' cotton all the day?
A dollar a day is a white man's pay, Ridin' on a donkey.
Were you ever in Cardiff Bay Where the folks all shout,
"Hooray!"?
"Here comes Johnny with his six months pay!” Riding on a
donkey."
Were you ever in Vallipo Where the gals put on a show?
Wriggle their arse with a roll and go Riding on a donkey.
That's a lie, that's a lie
That's a lie, a lie, a lie!
Were you ever in Timbucktoo Where the gals are black and
blue?
And they wriggle their arses, too Riding on a donkey.
This ram and I got drunk, sir, as drunk as drunk could be,
And when we sobered up, sir, we were far away out on the
sea.
Wuz ye ever in Canton Where the men wear pigtails long,
And the gals play hong-ki-kong? Riding on a donkey.
This wonderful old ram, sir, was playful as a kid;
He swallowed the captain's spyglass along with the bo'sun's
fid.
One morning on the poop, sir, before eight bells was rung,
He grabbed the captain's sextant and took a shot at the sun.
One night 'twas wet and rough, sir, and the wind was blowing
keen
He borrowed my suit of oilskins and he took nmy trick at the
wheel
Wuz ye ever in Mirramashee Where ye tie up to a tree,
An' the skeeters do bite ye? Riding on a donkey.
Wuz ye ever on the Broomielaw Where the Yanks are all the go,
An' the boys dance heel an' toe? Riding on a donkey.
Wuz ye ever in London Town, where the king he does come down
And he wears a golden crown Riding on a donkey.
Wuz ye ever in Baltimore, dancin’ on that sandy floor,
Where them girls the ask for more, Riding on a donkey
5
Yes I’ve been to Baltimore, Them Dundalk girls I do adore
With their beehive hair and their “Yeah, Hon, Sure!”
Riding on a donkey.
Essequibo River
Essequibo River is the Queen of rivers all
General Taylor
To me way, hey, Stormy
Walk him along, John, carry him along
Way, hey, Stormy
Carry him to his burying ground
Buddy tanna na, we are somebody O!
General Taylor died long ago
Buddy tanna na, we are somebody O!
He's gone to where the winds don't blow
Essequibo River is the Queen of rivers all
Somebody O! Me Johnny, somebody O!
Buddy tanna na, we are somebody O!
Somebody O! Me Johnny, somebody O!
Buddy tanna na, we are somebody O!
Essequibo Captain is the King of captains all
Essequibo Bos'un is the King of Bos'uns all
Essequibo Sailors is the Chief of Sailors all
Essequibo Sallies is the Queen of Sallies all
Essequibo Maidens is the Queen of Maidens all
Fathom The Bowl
Walk him along, John, Carry him along
Carry him to his burying ground
We dug his grave with a silver spade
His shroud of the finest silk was made
We lowered him down on a golden chain
On every link we carved his name
I wish I was old Stormy's son
I'd build me a ship of ten thousand ton
I'd load her down with ale and rum
And every shellback should have some
Come all you bold heroes; give ear to my song
I’ll sing in the praise of good brandy and rum
There’s a clear fountain, near England shall flow
A tot of rum for every man
And a bottle full for the shanty man
Give me the punch ladle I’ll fathom the bowl.
I’ll fathom the bowl; I’ll fathom the bowl
Give me the punch ladle I’ll fathom the bowl.
Get Up Jack, John Sit Down
From France we do get brandy, from Jamaica comes rum
While sweet oranges and lemons from Portugal come
Strong beer and good cider, o’er England shall flow
My wife she comes in, when I sit at my ease
She scolds and she grumbles, and she does as she please
She may scold and she may grumble till her face is black as
coal
-orMy wife she is a mermaid what lives in the sea,
She comes up at night, to make love to me
My wife she is a mermaid, like the sea her hips roll!
(Thanks Mishka!)
My father, he lies in the depth of the sea
With stones at his feet, what matters for he?
Here’s a cask of good cider, to pray for his soul
Oh, the ships will come and the ships will go,
As long as waves do roll
The sailor lad, likewise his dad,
He loves the flowing bowl:
A lass ashore we do adore,
One that is plump and round, round, round.
When the money is gone, it's the same old song,
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!
Come along, come along, me jolly brave boys,
There's lots more grog in the jar.
We'll plough the briny ocean
With the jolly roving tar.
[I] go and take a trip in a man-o'-war To China or Japan,
In Asia, there are ladies fair Who love the sailorman.
When Jack and Joe palavers, 0,
And buy the girls a gown, gown, gown.
When the money is gone it's the same old song,
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!
When Jack is ashore he beats his way
6
Towards some old boarding-house:
They’ll welcomed him in with rum and gin,
And he's fed with pork and scouse:
For he'll lend and spend and never offend
Til he lays drunk on the ground, ground, ground
When his money is gone it's the same old song:
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!
When Jack gets old and weatherbeat, Too old to roustabout,
In some rum-shop they'll let him stop, At 8 bells he's turned
out.
He’ll raise his eyes up to the skies,
“I'll soon be homeward bound, bound, bound."
When my money is gone it's the same old song:
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!
Hangin' Johnny
They calls me hangin' Johnny,
Away, boys, away!
They says I hang for money!
So hang, boys, hang!
They says I hanged me mother / Me sisters and me brothers
They says I hanged me granny / I strung her up so canny
They says I hung a copper / I gave him the long dropper
I'd hang the mates and skippers / I'd hang 'em by their
flippers
A rope, a beam, a ladder / I'll hang ye all together
Hang `em from the yardarm / Hang the sea and buy a
pigfarm
They say I hang for money / Hangin' ain't bloody funny
They calls me hangin' Johnny / Ain't never hanged nobody
Haul Away Joe
Way haul away, we're bound for better weather.
Way haul away, we'll haul away Joe.
Way haul away, we're bound away together.
Way haul away, we'll haul away Joe.
Oh, when I was a little boy me mother often told me;
Way, haul away, we'll haul away for Rosie, Oh.
Way haul away, we'll haul away Joe.
Well, first I had an Irish gal, her name was Kitty Brannigan;
She stole me boots, she stole me clothes, she pinched me plate
and pannikin.
And then I got a German girl, but she was fat and lazy,
And then I got a Yankee girl, she damn near drove me crazy.
King Louis was the king of France before the revolution.
And then he got his head chopped off it spoiled his constitution.
Saint Patrick was a gentleman. He came from decent people.
He built a church in Dublin town and on it put a steeple.
Once I was in Ireland a'digging turf and taties.
But now I'm on a Yankee ship a'hauling on the braces.
You call yerself a second mate, an' cannot tie a bowline;
You cannot even stand up straight when the packet she's a
rollin'.
High Barbary
There were two lofty ships from old England came
Blow high, blow low and so sail we
One was the Prince of Luther the other Prince of Wales
All a-cruisin' down the coast of High Barbary
"Aloft there, aloft there" our jolly bosun cried
Blow high, blow low and so sail we
"Look ahead, look astern, look to weather an' a-lee"
All a-cruisin' down the coast of High Barbary
"There's naught upon the stern, sir there's naught upon our lee
But there's a lofty ship to wind'ard an' she's sailin' fast and free"
"Oh hail her, oh hail her" our gallant captain cried
"Are you a man-o-war or a privateer?" cried he
"Oh, I'm not a man-o-war nor privateer," said he
"But I am salt sea pirate all a-looking for me fee"
Way haul away, we'll haul away Joe.
For Broadside, for broadside a long time we lay
'Til at last the Prince of Luther shot the pirate's mast away
Way, haul away, we'll haul away for Rosie, Oh.
"Oh quarter, oh quarter" those pirates they did cry
But the quarter that we gave them was we sank 'em in the sea
That if I did not kiss the girls me lips would grow all moldy.
I sailed the seas for seven years not knowin' what I was
missin';
Then I trimmed my sails before the gales and started in akissin'.
7
A Hundred Years Ago
We wish to Christ we'd never been born!
Oh, a hundred years on the Eastern Shore
Oh haul, oh haul, oh haul away,
Oh haul away, an' make yer pay
Oh, yea, oh!
A hundred years on the Eastern Shore
A hundred years ago!
Ol' Bully John from Baltimore
I knew him well, on the Eastern shore
Ol' Bully John was the boy for me
A bully on shore and a bucko at sea
Ol' Bully John I knew him well
But now he'd dead and gone to hell.
He's as dead as a nail on the lamp room floor
He's as dead as a nail that son of a whore
They used to think that pigs could fly
Have you ever heard such a silly lie?
They thought the world was square and flat
Don't tell old Chris Columbo that!
They say that mermaids was no yarn
In Baltimore they've a lot to l'arn
They hung a man for making steam
Throwed his body into the stream
Oh a hundred years is a very long time
Oh a hundred years is a very long time
John Kanaka-naka
I heard, I heard, the old man say,
John Kanaka-naka tu-lai-ay!
Today, today is a holiday,
John Kanaka-naka tu-lai-ay!
Tu-lai-ay, Oh! Tu-lai-ay!
John Kanaka-naka tu-lai-ay!
We'll work tomorrow, but no work today,
We'll work tomorrow, but no work today.
We're bound away for 'Frisco Bay,
We're bound away at the break of day.
We're bound away around Cape Horn,
Leave Her Johnny
Leave her, Johnny, leave her!
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!
For the voyage is done an' the winds don't blow,
An’ it’s time for us to leave her!
O the times are hard and the wages low,
Leave her, Johnny, leave her!
I think it's time for us to go!
An’ it’s time for us to leave her!
O I thought I heard the old man say,
Tomorrow ye will get your pay!
It's rotten beef an' weev'ly bread,
It's pump or drown the old man said.
The wind was foul an' the sea ran high,
She shipped it green an' none went by.
We'd be better off in a nice clean gaol,
With all night in an' plenty o' ale!
The mate was a bucko an' the old man a turk,
The bosun was a beggar with the middle name ‘o work!
It's growl yer may an' go yer must,
It matters not whether yer last or furst!
The cook's a drunk, he likes to booze,
'tween him an' the mate there's little to choose!
I hate to sail on this rotten tub,
No grog allowed and rotten grub!
Now I thought I hear the old man say,
Just one more pull an' then belay.
8
Liverpool Judies
When I was a youngster I sailed with the rest
On a Liverpool packet bound out for the West.
We anchored one day in the harbor of Cork,
Then we put out for the port of New York.
And it's row, row bullies, row,
Them Liverpool judies have got us in tow
For forty two days we was hungry and sore.
Oh, the winds was again'us, the gales, they did roar.
But off Battery Point we did anchor at last
With our jib'boom hove to and the canvas all fast.
The boardinghouse masters was off in a trice
A'shouting and promising all that was nice,
And one fat old crimp took a fancy to me.
Says he, "You're a fool, lad, to follow the sea."
Says he, "There's a job as is waiting for you,
With lashings o'liquor and bugger'all to do."
Says he, "Wha'd'yer say, lad, will you jump her too?"
Says I, "You old bastard, I'm damned if I do."
But the best of intentions, they never goes far.
After thirty two days at the door of a bar
I tossed off me liquor and what do you think?
That rotten old bastard had drugs in me drink.
The next I remember, I woke in the morn
On a three skys'l yarder bound south round Cape Horn.
With an old suit of oilskins and two pairs of socks
And a bloomin' great head and a dose of the pox.
Now all you young sailors take a warnin' by me.
Keep and eye on yer drinks when the liquor is free.
And pay no attention to runner or whore
When your hat's on your head and your feet's on the shore
The Mermaid
The ocean waves do roll And the stormy winds do blow
And we poor sailors go skippin' at the top
While the landlubbers lie down below, below, below,
The landlubbers lie down below!
It was Friday morn when we set sail,
And we were not far from the land
When our Captain he spied a mermaid so fair
With a comb and a glass in her hand.
Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship
And a fine old man was he!
This sweet mermaid has warned us of our doom;
We shall sink to the bottom of the sea!"
Then up spoke the mate of our gallant ship,
And a fine spoken man was he!
Said "I have a wife in Brooklyn by the sea,
And tonight a widow she will be!"
Then up spoke the cabin-boy of our gallant ship,
And a brave young lad was he!
Said "I have a sweetheart in Salem by the sea,
And tonight she'll be weepin' there for me!"
Then up spoke the cook of our gallant ship,
And a crazy old butcher was he!
Said "I care much more for my pots and my pans
Than I do for the bottom of the sea!"
Then three times round spun our gallant ship,
And three times round spun she;
Three times round spun our gallant ship,
And she sank to the bottom of the sea!
New York Girls
As I walked down the Broadway One evening in July
I met a maid who asked me trade And a sailor John says I.
To Tiffany's I took her I did not mind expense
I bought her two gold earrings And they cost me fifteen cents
And away, you Santee My dear Annie
O, you New York Girls Can't you dance the Polka?
Says she, "You Limejuice sailor Now see me home you may"
But when we reached her cottage door She this to me did say.
"My flash man he's a Yankee With his hair cut short behind
He wears a pair of long sea-boots And he sails in the Blackball
Line”
He's homeward bound this evening And with me he will stay
So get a move on, sailor-boy Get cracking on your way"
So I kissed her hard and proper Afore her flash man came
And fare ye well, me Bowery gal I know your little game
I wrapped me glad rags round me And to the docks did steer
I'll never court another maid I'll stick to rum and beer.
I joined a Yankee blood-boat And sailed away next morn
Don't ever fool around with gals You're safer off Cape Horn
9
Paddy Doyle’s Boots
Somethin' for to drive away dull care, (Care, care)
T’me way-ay-ay yah!
So down upon me knees I went like thunder, (Thunder)
Put me hand into the bottom of the box, (Box, box)
An' what wuz there to my great surprise an' wonder, (Wonder)
Found only a bottle of medicine for the pox, (Pox, pox)
We'll pay Paddy Doyle for his boots!
We'll all drink brandy and gin!
We'll all shave under the chin!
We'll all throw dirt at the cook!
Who stole poor Paddy Doyle's boots!
The dirty ol' man's on the poop!
We'll bouse 'er up and be done!
Paddy Lay Back
'Twas a cold an' dreary mornin' in December (December)
An' all of me money it was spent, (Spent, spent)
Where it went to, Lord I can't remember (Remember)
So down to the shipping office I went, (Went, went)
Paddy lay back (Paddy lay back)
Take in the slack (take in the slack)
Take a turn around yer capstan, heave a pawl (heave a pawl)
'Bout ship, stations, boys, be handy, (be handy)
We’re bound for Valapariso ‘round the horn
That day there was a great demand for sailors, (For sailors)
For the colonies and for Frisco and for France (France,
France)
So I shipped aboard a Limey barque the Hotspur (The
Hotspur)
An' got paralytic drunk on my advance, ('Vance, 'vance)
I woke up in the mornin' sick an' sore, sir (Sore sir)
An' I knew that I was outward bound again, (Bound again)
When I heard a voice a-bawlin' at the door, sir (The door, sir)
"Lay aft, men, an' answer to yer names !", (Names, names)
It was on the quarter deck when first I saw them (saw them)
Such an ugly bunch I’d never seen before (‘fore, ‘fore)
There was a bum and a stiff in every quarter (quarter)
And it made me poor old heart so sick and sore (sore, sore)
There wuz Spaniards & Dutchmen & Roo-si-ans (Roo-si-ans)
And Johhny Crapeaus jest across from France (France,
France)
And none of 'em could speak a word of English (English)
But they'd answer to the name of "Month's Advance" (vance,
vance)
Well I knew that in my box I had a bottle, (A bottle)
By the boardin'-master 't was put there, ('t was put there)
An' I needed something for to wet me throttle, (Me throttle)
So I asked the mate, "Which watch was mine-O."(mine-oh)
He said he'd show me which watch was which.(which, which)
So he knocked me down and kicked me in the stern-O (the
stern-o).
Calling me, "a dirty lousy son-of-a-bitch."(bitch, bitch)
Now I wish that I was in the Jolly Sailor (sailor)
along with Irish Kitty drinkin’ beer (beer, beer)
I’d think what a jolly lot was sailors (sailors)
and with me flipper I’d wipe away me tear (tear, tear)
But here I am off again to sea boys (sea boys)
It’s the same old bloody business over again (again, again)
So stamp the capstan round and make some noise boys (noise
boys)
And sing to me the jolly old refrain. (frain, frain)
Pleasant and Delightful
It was pleasant and delightful one midsummer's morn
When the fields and the meadows were all covered in corn
And the blackbirds and thrushes sang on every green spray
And the larks they sang melodious at the dawning of the day
And the larks they sang melodious (3x) at the dawning of the
day
A sailor and his true love were a'walking one day
Said the sailor to his truelove I am bound far away
I am bound for the East Indies where the load cannons roar
I must go and leave my Nancy, (3x) she's the girl that I adore
Then the ring from off her finger she instantly drew
Saying, Take this my dearest William and my heart will go too
And whilst he stood embracing her tears from her eyes fell
Saying, May I go along with you, (3x) o no, my love, farewell
So it's fare thee well my Nancy, I can no longer stay
For the topsail is hoisted and the anchor aweigh
And the ship lies awaiting for the next flowing tide
And if ever I return again, (3x) I will make you my bride
10
Pump Me Boys
They say life has its ups and downs
That really now is quite profound
I'd like to push the capstan round
But its pump me boys before we drown.
Pump me boys, pump her dry
Down to hell and up to the sky
Bend your back and break your bones
We're just a thousand miles from home.
The ocean we all do adore
So come on boys let's pump some more
Don't worry if your stiff and sore
I'm sure we've pumped this bit before.
Sometimes when I am in me bed
And thinking of me day ahead
I wish that I could wake up dead
But pumpin's all I get instead.
Yes, how I wish that I could die
The swine who built this tub to find
I'd bring him back from where he fries
And pump him till the beggar's dry.
If Noah used him for his ark
Now wouldn't that have been a lark
From rising sun till getting dark
The animals all hard at work.
The captain's daughter I suppose
Could be called an English Rose
What would you think when I propose
The pox she gave to me a dose.
This rose well she did prick me sore
I never felt so bad before
Thanks to the girl i did adore
I thought I'd never pump no more.
I called the doctor right away
To find out what he had to say
That's two pound ten get on your way
I'm sure this girl is in his pay.
There's so much water down below
Just how it got there I don't know
The old man says let's roll and go
But I think we're bound for Davey Jones.
Roll the Old Chariot Along
Oh, a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm (3X)
And we'll all hang on behind.
So we'll roll the old chariot along (3X)
An' we'll all hang on behind!
Oh, a plate of Irish stew wouldn't do us any harm
O a roll in the clover wouldn’t do us any harm
Oh, a long spell in gaol wouldn't do us any harm
Oh, a nice watch below wouldn't do us any harm
Oh, a round on the house wouldn't do us any harm
(ad infinitum…)
Rolling Down to Old Maui
Rolling down to old Maui, my boys,
Rolling down to old Maui.
We're homeward bound from the arctic ground
Rolling home to old Maui.
It's a damned tough life, full of toil and strife
We whalermen undergo.
And we don't give a damn when the gale has stopped
How hard the wind did blow.
We're homeward bound! 'Tis a grand old sound
On a good ship taut and free,
And we don't give a damn when we drink our rum
With the girls on old Maui.
Once more we sail with a northerly gale
Through the ice and sleet and rain.
And them coconut fronds in them tropic lands
We soon shall see again.
Six hellish months we've passed away In the cold Kamchatka
sea,
And now we're bound from the arctic ground,
Rolling down to old Maui.
We'll heave the lead where old Diamondhead
Looms up on old Oahu.
Our mast and yards are sheathed with ice
And our decks are hid from view.
The horrid tiles of the sea-cut ice That deck the Arctic Sea
Are miles behind in the frozen wind Since we steered for old
Maui.
How soft the breeze of the tropic seas Now the ice is far
astern,
11
And them native maids in them island glades Are awaiting our
return.
Even now their big black eyes look out
Hoping some fine day to see
Our baggy sails running 'fore the gales Rolling down to old
Maui.
And now we sail with a favoring gale towards our island
home.
Our mainmast sprung, our whaling done,
And we ain't got far to roam.
Our stuns'l booms are carried away
What care we for that sound? A living gale is after us,
Thank God we're homeward bound!
And now we're anchored in the bay With the Kanakas all
around
With chants and soft aloha oesThey greet us homeward
bound.
And now ashore we'll have good fun We'll paint them beaches
red
Awaking in the arms of a wahine With a big fat aching head.
Sailor’s Prayer
(Tom Lewis)
This dirty town has been my home since last time I was
sailing
But I'll not stay another day, I'd sooner be out whaling
Oh Lord above, send down a dove,
With beak as sharp as razors
To cut the throat of them there blokes
What sells bad beer to sailors
Paid off me score and then ashore, me money soon was
flying
With Judy Lee upon my knee and in my ear a lying
With my newfound friends, my money spent just as fast as
winking
But when I make to clean the slate, the landlord says, "Keep
Drinking"
So for one last trip from port I'll ship but next time back I'm
swearing
I'll settle down in my hometown and go no more seafaring
Sam's Gone Away
I wish I was a cabin boy, aboard a man o'war!
Sam's gone away, aboard a man o'war!
Pretty work, brave boys,Pretty work, I say!
Sam's gone away, aboard a man o'war!
I wish I was the captain, aboard a man o'war!
I wish I was the bos'n, aboard a man o'war!
I wish I was a gunner, aboard a man o'war!
You'll never be a hero, aboard a man o'war!
I Wish I were an Admiral, lounging in Whitehall!
Etc. etc. etc...
The Shanghaied Dredger
Upon the far-off Eastern Shore an oyster dredger lay
With the seat worn out of his oilskin pants, his hat had blown
away
His clothes were rather seedy, and his chance he knew was slim
Of ever reaching Baltimore in the pungy he was in
Then lay me in the forepeak with my face toward Baltimore
Saying I'll never get shanghaied again out on the Eastern Shore
Where they feed you on corn dog and sourbelly twice a day
And you're counted a lucky dredger if you ever get your pay
In spirit he could fancy himself in a restaurant again
Ordering plates of liver for himself and Shorty McClean
The dredgers stood around him, their eyes could scarcely see
From drinking five cent whisky, oh what a glorious spree
Our steward he was a coloured man, the best cook in the fleet
At making india rubber bread he never could be beat
His shadow soup was excellent, and on a Christmas day
We'd eat dead duck that he'd pick up while sailing dow the Bay
With me money gone and clothes in pawn and Judy set for
leaving
Six months of pay gone in three days, but Judy isn't grieving
It was on one chilly evening after working all the day
Our captain spied with his telescope the police sloop far away
With sails trimmed aft and topsails set our gallant pungy flew
Over to the forbidden ground to catch a jag or two
When the crimp comes round, I'll take his pound
and his hand I'll be shaking
Tomorrow morn sail for the Horn just as dawn is breaking
But scarce we'd started working when the police sloop hove in
sight
"Haul down your jib" was his command, and then began the fight
12
The captain hauled his pistol out as the sloop to round us
tried
But we raised our dredge and made away upon the foggy tide
And as you wallop round Cape Horn,
You'll wish to Christ you'd never been born!
Six Feet of Mud (Cyril Tawney)
In South Australia Skylab fell
Fifteen Billion, Shot to hell!
Roll on the drums, oh! me time has come
Let's get it over with before I start to hum in
Oh, rock and roll me over boys,
Let's get this damn job over boys.
Six Feet of mud, six feet of mud,
Nine fathoms of water and six feet of mud.
Spanish Ladies
Haul down the flag and sew up the bag
One consolation-the wife can't nag me in
Fire the last salute and slide me down the chute
But don't send me overboard in me tiddly suit into
Sound the last post and pray for me ghost
For in three day's time I'll be washed up on the coast
There's a billet to let and I hope you don't forget
To break the news to Greenburgh's I'm in Crown debt
In a year on this tub it's me first green rub
And there ain't a man among you can do me a sub
I said to the doc "It's a race against the clock
'Cos in three hours time we'll be in dry dock without the
South Australia
In South Australia I was born!
Heave away! Haul away!
South Australia round Cape Horn!
We're bound for South Australia!
Haul away you rollin’ kings
T’me heave away! Haul away!
“Haul away,” you’ll hear me sing,
We’re ‘bound for south Australia
As I walked out one morning fair,
It's there I met Miss Nancy Blair.
I shook her up, I shook her down,
I shook her round and round the town.
There ain't but one thing grieves my mind,
It's to leave Miss Nancy Blair behind.
Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish ladies,
Farwell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;
For we've received orders for to sail to old England;
But we hope in a short time to see you again.
We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,
We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas,
Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England,
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty five leagues.
Then we hove our ship to with the wind at sou'west, boys,
We hove our ship to, for to strike soundings clear;
We got soundings in ninety-five fathom, and boldly
Up the channel of old England our course we did steer.
Now the first land we made it is called the Deadman,
Then, Ramshead off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and Wight;
We passed by Beechy, by Fairleigh and Dungeness,
And hove our ship to, off South Foreland Light.
Then a signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor,
All in the Downs, that night for to meet
Then stand by your stoppers, let go your shank-painters,
Haul all your clew garnets, stick out tacks and sheets.
Now let every man drink off his full bumper
Let every man toss off his full bowls;
We'll drink and be jolly, and drown melancholy,
So here's a good health to all true-hearted souls!
13
Strike the Bell
Up on the poop deck and walking all about,
There is the second mate so steady and so stout;
What he is a-thinkin' of he doesn't know himself
And we wish that he would hurry up and strike, strike the
bell.
Strike the bell, second mate, let us go below;
Look ye well to windward you can see it's gonna blow;
Look at the glass, you can see it has fell,
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell.
Down on the main deck and workin' at the pumps,
There is the larboard watch just longing for their bunks;
Look out to windward, you can see a great swell,
And we wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the
bell.
Forward on the forecastle head and keepin' sharp lookout,
There is Johnny standin', a-longin' fer to shout,
“Lights' a-burnin' bright sir and everything is well,”
And he's wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike
the bell.
Aft at the wheelhouse old Anderson stands,
Graspin' at the helm with his frostbitten hands,
Lookin' at the compass through the course is clear as hell
And he's wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike
the bell.
Aft on the quarter deck our gallant captain stands,
Lookin' out to windward with a spyglass in his hand,
What he is a-thinkin' of we know very well,
He's thinkin' more of shortenin' sail than strikin' the bell.
Sugar in the Hold Below
I wish I was in Mobile Bay, screwing cotton all of the day
But I'm stowing sugar in the hold below,
Below, below, below
Hey, ho, below, below Stowing sugar in the hold below
Hey, ho, below, below Stowing sugar in the hold below
The J.M. White, she's a new boat
Stem to stern she's mighty fine
Beat any boat on the New Orleans line
Stowing sugar in the hold below
The engineer shouts through his trumpet
"Tell the mate we got bad news.
Can't get steam for the fire in the flue"
Stowing sugar in the hold below
The captain's on the quarter deck
Scratchin' 'way at his old neck
And he cries out, "Heave the larboard lead"
Stowing sugar in the hold below
Twiddles (Janie Meneely)
When the boats all get to sailing and the men are off and gone
What about the women who are up and left alone
Do you think they sit and twiddle thumbs until their men come
home
Ha! There's other things to twiddle when a girl's left on her own.
And it's twiddly-i dee-i dee-i, twiddly-i dee-ay
Well it's oftentimes a man will leave you broken with dismay
And it's twiddly-i dee-i dee-i, twiddly-i dee-ay
But there's other things to twiddle when your man has sailed
away.
Well, I remember Nancy, she was young and she was gay
She won the heart of Captain Dan until he sailed away
He left her high and dry with just a kiss upon the chin
But as his ship went sailing out, another ship sailed in.
And then there was Lucinda Brown, as fair as any maid
Her truelove went a voyaging, a sailorman by trade
"Oh, keep the fire burning, love," those are the words he spoke
So she found herself another man to keep that fire stoked.
Lucy Jeffers man came back and knocked upon the door
She was as glad to see him as she'd ever been before
He left her sleeping in the bed, but Lucy didn't care
Cuz the poor guy in the closet sure could use a little air.
Oh you hear a lot of stories 'bout the sailors and their sport
About how every sailor has a girl in every port
But if you added two and two, you'd figure out right quick
It's just because the girls all have a lad on every ship.
14
Whiskey, O, Johnny, O
Whiskey is the life of man
I'll drink whiskey when I can,
I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight.
She said "I have whiskey and wines of the best
And the words that I spoke sure were only in jest."
Whiskey, O, Johnny, O
John rise her up from down below.
Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey,O
Up aloft this yard must go,
John rise her up from down below.
I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.
And if they forgive me as ofttimes before
Sure I never will play the wild rover no more.
I like whiskey hot and strong,
I'll drink whiskey all day long.
Whiskey made my mother cry
Of whiskey she was always shy.
Credits:
Champagne is good, and so is rum
And beer is good enough for some.
I'll drink it hot, I'll drink it cold
I'll drink it new, I'll drink it old.
Whiskey made me sell my coat,
Whiskey's what keeps me afloat.
Whiskey killed my sister Sue
Whiskey killed my brother, too.
Some likes whiskey, some likes beer
I wish I had a barrel here.
Whiskey made the bosun call
Hang together one and all.
Whiskey stole me brains away
One more pull and we'll belay!
Wild Rover
I've been a wild rover for many a year
And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer
And now I'm returning with gold in great store
And I never will play the wild rover no more.
And it's no, nay, never;(!!!) No nay never no more,(!!)
Will I play the wild rover,(!) No never no more
I went to an ale-house I used to frequent
And I told the landlady my money was spent.
I asked her for credit, she answered me "nay
Such a custom as yours I could have any day."
Editor Emeritus: Lynn Title
Template: Don Stallone
Editor: Vince Wilding.
Email additions, deletions and changes to:
[email protected]
Thanks to the artists and their estates who have given their
permission to include their works, especially:
Tom Lewis (www.TomLewis.net)
Janie Meneely (www.JanieMeneely.com)
Cyril Tawney (www.CyrilTawney.co.uk)
Remember, this is FOLK music, there are no mistakes, only
stylings. Folks may be singing completely different lyrics than
are in this hymnal. These lyrics aren’t actually rules, more like
guidelines…
15
LIGHT FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE
(Bob Zentz/Traditional)
When the daylight fades and the shadows
fall
Let the light from the lighthouse shine on
me
And the weather watch spies a coming
squall
Let the light from the lighthouse shine on
me
And the sun sinks low in a troubled sea
Let the light from the lighthouse shine on
me
And the night winds blow and the rain falls
free
Let the light from the lighthouse shine on
me
Oh shine on me, shine on me
Let the light from the lighthouse shine on
me
Shine on me, oh, shine on me
Let the light from the lighthouse shine on
me
Oh the clouds boil black and the wind will
wail
Let the light...
And you're caught in the teeth of a living
gale
Let the light...
And then your sailor's heart is filled with fear
Let the light...
When the sound of the surf on the rocks is
near
Let the light...
Then the wind drops off and the sea's
becalmed
But the fog is thickest before the dawn
Then the new sun burns that fog away
From the darkest night comes the brightest
day
When your ship is safe in port again
You can thank the keeper, you can thank
the flame
The Diamond
The Diamond is a ship my boys, for
Greenland she is bound
And the quay it is all garnished with bonny
lassies 'round
The captain gives the order to sail the
ocean wide
Where the sun it never sets my lads, no
darkness dims the tide
. CHORUS
So cheer up my lads let your hearts never
fail
While the bonnie ship, the Diamond goes
fishin' for the whale
Along the quay at Peterhead, the lassies
stand around
With their shawls about their heads and salt
tears runnin' down
I'll never weep my bonny lad though I'm left
behind
For there's not a rose on Greenland's ice to
make you change your mind
. CHORUS
Here's a health to the resolution likewise the
Eliza Swan
A health to the Battle of Montrose and the
Diamond ship of fame
They wear the trousers of the white the
jackets of the blue
When they return to Peterhead they'll find
that we've been true
. CHORUS
It'll be bright both day and night when the
Greenland lads come home
With a ship that's full of oil my lads and
money to their name
They'll make the cradles for to rock and the
blankets for to tear
And every lass in Peterhead sing hush-abye my dear
. CHORUS
16
Whiskey in the Jar
As I was going over the far fames Kerry
mountains
I met with Captain Farrell and his money
he was counting.
I first produced my pistol, and then
produced my rapier.
Said stand and deliver, for I am a bold
deceiver,
Chorus:
Musha ring dumma do damma da
Whack for the daddy ‘ol
Whack for the daddy ‘ol
There’s whiskey in the jar
And if he’ll come and save me, we’ll go
roving near Killkenny,
And I swear he’ll treat me better than
me darling sportling Jenny
Chorus:
Now some men take delight in the
drinking and the roving,
But others take delight in the gambling
and the smoking.
But I take delight in the juice of the
barley,
And courting pretty fair maids in the
morning bright and early.
Chorus
Come for to Sing
I counted out his money, and it made a
pretty penny.
I put it in my pocket and I took it home to
Jenny.
She said and she swore, that she never
would deceive me, but the devil take the
women, for they never can be easy.
Chorus:
I went into my chamber, all for to take a
slumber,
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure
it was no wonder.
But Jenny took my charges and filled
them with water,
Then sent for captain Ferrel to be ready
for the slaughter.
Chorus:
It was early in the morning, as I rose up
for travel,
The guards were all around me and
likewise captain Farrel.
I first produced my pistol, for she stole
away my rapier,
But I couldn’t shoot the water so a
prisoner I was taken.
Chorus:
If anyone can aid me, it’s my brother in
the army,
If I can find his station down in Cork or
in Killarny.
Chorus:
Some come to work, while others to play,
Some come in evening, to pass time away;
Some come to laugh, Their voices to ring;
But as for me, I come for to sing.
We know our friends, And we know our
foes, We know who'll be there,
In times of woe. We went a sailing, Our ship
went to sink, Some come for singing, We
come for to drink,
Chorus
When I was a young man, I strayed far
from home, I joined the King's navy, To
ramble and roam; But now that I'm older,
The one thing I've found, Is that home never
leaves you, When good friends are around.
Chorus
17
Rosabella
Blowed and Torn
One Monday morning in the month of May,
One Monday morning in the month of May,
I thought I heard the Old Man say,
"The Rosabella will sail today."
Chorus
And I'm going on board the Rosabella,
I'm going on board the Rosabella,
I'm going on board, right down to board
The saucy Rosabella.
When I was just a little boy searching for my
way
I remember how I filled with pride to hear
my father say
Your dreams are like the main sail set high
above the mast
And you run before that living wind as long
as dreams can last
Chorus:
My sails are blown and torn, been laid down
wet
They need all the mendin' that they can get
No time to be attending on these winds alive
today
Me sails are worn and weathered and I'm
bound to go my way
I grew up and went to school, to learn that
dreams ain't real
They taught me how to calculate, hide the
things I feel
I know they didn't mean no harm, but this
their learning said
That a man's a man in this here world, and
if you dream you're dead
(Chorus)
For many years now I have been living in
my dreams
Reality confuses me with its many schemes
So I'll take that weathered tapestry that's
folded in my soul
And run before the living wind with all the
love I know
(Chorus, first softer, then louder)
She's a deep-water ship with a deep-water
crew,
She's a deep-water ship with a deep-water
crew,
You can stick to the coast but I'll be damned
if we do
On board the Rosabella.
Chorus
All around Cape Horn in the month of May,
All around Cape Horn in the month of May,
All around Cape Horn is a bloody long way
On board the Rosabella.
Chorus
Them Bowry girls will make me grieve,
Them Bowry girls will make me grieve,
They've spent all my money, they'll make
me leave
On board the Rosabella.
Chorus
One Monday morning in the month of May,
One Monday morning in the month of May,
I thought I heard the Old Man say,
"The Rosabella will sail today."
18
WE'RE HERE TO DRINK THE WHISKEY
Captain Silver commandeered half the
Spanish fleet,
A dozen brigs and fishing rigs to make the
day complete.
Then ashore to a dusty tavern with his
weary, thirsty crew,
Crying, "Landlord! Throw away the cork!
We'll likely have a few!"
CHO: Singing: We're all here to drink the
whiskey.
We're all here for nothing less.
Raise your glass and toast your neighbor,
Turn and toast the rest.
For it's one, two, three rounds,
We're hellish glad we're here.
We're here to drink the whiskey
And then we'll drink the beer.
Lord Faversham of Henley took his
pleasure, one might say,
From serving sherry in the garden in the
evening of the day.
He shared with the cooks and
chambermaids his hospitality,
'Til eventually there were seventeen and
two at four for tea. CHO.
It was four in the morn on New Year's Day,
we all said our goodnights.
The wife and I fell into bed and snuffed out
all the lights.
And just as we were nodding off, came a
pounding at the door.
In marched MacNamara with a bloody
bagpipe corps. CHO.
MOLLY MALONE
In Dublin's fair city where girls are so pretty
Twas there that I first met sweet Molly
Malone
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through street broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive
oh"
Alive, alive oh, alive, alive oh,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive
oh"
Now she was a fishmonger and sure twas
no wonder
For so were her mother and father before
And they each wheeled their barrows
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive
oh"
She died of a faver and no one could save
her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
Now her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive
oh"
Wild Mountain Thyme
O the summer time is comin'
And the trees are sweetly bloomin'
And the wild mountain thyme
Grows around the bloomin' heather
Will ye go lassie go?
Chorus:
And we'll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin' heather
Will ye go lassie go?
I will build my love a bower
By yon clear, crystal fountain
And on it I will pile,
All the flowers o' the mountain
Will ye go lassie go?
Chorus:
If my true love were gone
I will surely no other
To pull wild mountain thyme,
All around the purple heather
Will ye go lassie go?
Chorus: Soft
Chorus: Repeat strong
19
LOCH LOMOND
I'm A Rover
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie
braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch
Lomond,
Where me and my true love were ever won't
to gae
On the bonnie bonnie banks o' Loch
Lomond
Though the night be dark as dungeon, not a
star to be seen above
I will be guided without a stumble, into the
arms of me only love.
I went up to her bedroom window, kneeling
gently upon a stone
I rapped on her bedroom window "My
darling dear, do you lie alone"?
O' ye'll tak the high road and I'll tak the low
road,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet
again,
On the bonnie bonnie banks o' loch Lomond
[Chorus:]
Twas there that we parted in yon shady
glen,
On the steep steep side o' Ben Lomond,
Where in deep purple hue, the Hieland hills
we view,
And the moon coming oot in the gloaming.
She raised her head up from her feather
pillow, raised her arms up around her
breast,
Saying "Who's at me bedroom window,
disturbing me at me long night's rest?
"It's only me, your own true lover, open the
door and please let me in.
For I have come on a long night's journey. I
am near drenched to the skin".
&c
The wee birdies sing, and the wild flowers
spring,
And in sunshine the waters are sleeping,
But the broken heart will ken nae second
spring again,'
Though the waefu' may cease fae their
greeting
&c
I'm a rover , seldom sober
I'm a rover of high degree
Ans when I'm drinking, I'm always thinking
How to gain my love's company.
[Chorus]
She opened the door with the greatest
pleasure, opened the door and she let me in
We both shook hands and embraced each
other. 'Til the morning we lay as one.
"Well now me love, I must go and leave
you, though the mountains be high above
Well, I will climb them with greater pleasure
that I have been with me only love".
[Chorus]
20
WE'RE HERE TO DRINK THE WHISKEY
Captain Silver commandeered half the
Spanish fleet,
A dozen brigs and fishing rigs to make the
day complete.
Then ashore to a dusty tavern with his
weary, thirsty crew,
Crying, "Landlord! Throw away the cork!
We'll likely have a few!"
CHO: Singing: We're all here to drink the
whiskey.
We're all here for nothing less.
Raise your glass and toast your neighbor,
Turn and toast the rest.
For it's one, two, three rounds,
We're hellish glad we're here.
We're here to drink the whiskey
And then we'll drink the beer.
Lord Faversham of Henley took his
pleasure, one might say,
From serving sherry in the garden in the
evening of the day.
He shared with the cooks and
chambermaids his hospitality,
'Til eventually there were seventeen and
two at four for tea. CHO.
It was four in the morn on New Year's Day,
we all said our goodnights.
The wife and I fell into bed and snuffed out
all the lights.
And just as we were nodding off, came a
pounding at the door.
In marched MacNamara with a bloody
bagpipe corps. CHO.
Mist covered mountains of home
Chorus
Ooh rah soon shall I see them;
He ro see them oh see them.
Oh ro soon shall I see them the
Mist covered mountains of home.
Hail to the mountains with summits of blue,
To the fields and the valleys of sunshine
and dew.
To the women and men ever constant and
true,
Ever ready to welcome one home.
Chorus
There shall I gaze on the mountains again,
On the fields and the woods and the valley
and glens,
Away 'mong the corries beyond human ken
In the haunts of the deer I will roam
Chorus
There shall I visit the place of my birth
And they'll give me a welcome the warmest
on earth
All so loving and kind full of music and
mirth,
In the sweet sounding language of ...
O, chi, chi mi na mòrbheanna,
O chi, chi mi na còrrbheanna,
O, chi, chi mi na coirreachan
Chi mi na sgoran fo cheò.( Repeat)
Chorus
Parting Glass
Of all the money that ere I had, I spent it in
good company.
And of all the harm that ere I've done, alas
was done to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit, to memory
now I cannot recall.
So fill me to the parting glass. Goodnight
and joy be with you all.
Oh, if I had money enough to spend and
leisure time to sit awhile
There is a fair maid in this town that sorely
has my heart beguiled
Her rosey cheeks and ruby lips, she alone
has my heart in thrall.
So fill me to the parting glass. Goodnight
and joy be with you all.
Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay
But since it fell into my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
"Good night and joy be to you all"
21
Health to the Company
Kind friends and companions, come join me in
rhyme
And lift up your voices in chorus with mine
Let us drink and be merry, all grief to refrain
For we may and might never all meet here again
Here's a health to the company and one to my
lass
Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass
Let us drink and be merry, all grief to refrain
For we may and might never all meet here again
Here's a health to the dear lass that I love so well
Her style and her beauty, sure none can excel
She smiles on my countenance and sits on me
knee
Sure there's no one in Erin as happy as we
Our ship lies at harbor, she's ready to dock
I hope she's safe landed without any shock
If ever I meet you by land or by sea
I will always remember your kindness to me
Last Skipjack (Bob Zentz)
Fell asleep on deck the other night
Last skipjack on the Chesapeake Bay
When a ghostly sloop hove into sight
Last skipjack on the Chesapeake Bay
Had her mast rigged back and her mainsail set
Last skipjack on the Chesapeake Bay
And the name on her trailboard I won’t forget
(said the)
Last skipjack on the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay, whoa, Chesapeake Bay
Last skipjack on the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay, oh, Chesapeake Bay
Last skipjack on the Chesapeake Bay
She was broad in the beam with a shallow draft
Had a trim little push-boat hanging aft
Now there’s only a dozen work the Bay today
She’s the last working sailboat in the USA
As I come alongside of her to a mournful song
Said my dredges are empty and the oysters gone
Then I awoke as from a dream
There was a sail on the horizon off the starboard
beam
The Mingalay Boat Song (Scott Robinson)
What care we how wild the minch is
What care we for windy weather
Hail ya ho boys, every inch is
Sailing closer to Mingalay
Hail ya ho boys, let her go boys
Bring her head 'round into the weather
Hail ya ho boys, let her go boys
Sailing homeward to Mingalay
Wives and sweethearts on the hillside
Looking seaward through the heather
Let her go boys, and we'll anchor
'Ere the sun sets on Mingalay
When the wind is wild with shouting
And the waves mount ever higher
Anxious eyes turn ever seaward
To see us home, boys, to Mingalay
Sye or Lewis, Mull or Uhist
Tyree, Kull or Vattersea
None can call us like our island
Our own dear isle of Mingalay
Longer, longer shall I tarry
Where our hearts are both blithe and merry
Turn her round, boys, and she’ll carry
Heart to hearth, home and Mingalay
One for the Morning Glory
At the end of the day, I like a little drink to raise
up me voice and
sing
And an hour or two with a fine, brown brew and
I'm ready for
anything
At the Cross Keys Inn there were sisters four,
the landlord's
daughters fair
And every night when they'd turn out the light I
would tiptoe up
the stair ...singin'
One for the morning glory, two for the early dew
Three for the man who will stand his round
And four for the love of you, me girl,
Four for the love of you
I got the call from a foreign shore to go and fight
the foe
And I thought no more of the sisters four, but
still I was sad to
go
I sailed away on a ship, the Morning Glory was
her name
And we'd all fall down when the rum went
'round, then get up
and start again
I bore once more for my native shore, farewell
to the raging
seas
22
And the Cross Keys Inn, it was beckonin', and
me heart was
filled with glee
For there on the shore were the sisters four with
a bundle upon
each knee
There were three little girls and a bouncing boy,
and they all
looked just like me...
Sailor’s Hymn (Ewan MacColl)
Come all ye bold seaman wherever you’re
bound,
And always let Nelson’s proud memory go
round.
And pray that the wars and the tumult may
cease,
For the greatest of gifts is a sweet lasting peace.
May the Lord put an end to these cruel old wars,
And bring peace and contentment to all our
brave tars.
The Saucy Roseabella
Oh, we're going on board the Roseabella (2X)
We're going on board, right down to board
The saucy Roseabella
Farewell ye ladies of London town (2X)
We hate to leave, but we're going on down
To board the Roseabella
She's a deep water ship with a deep water crew
(2X)
She could hug the shore, but damned if we do
Aboard the Roseabella
Around Cape Horn where the dolphins play (2X)
Around Cape Horn is a mighty long way
Aboard the Roseabella
Pretty Nancy is my love true (2X)
She could handle this bully crew
Aboard the Roseabella
Nancy brought whiskey for all the crew (2X)
She wanted to see which man would do
Aboard the Roseabella
Sloop John B
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 break up, I wanta go home.
So hoist up the John B’s sail, see how the
mains'l sets,
Call for the captain ashore, let me go home.
Let me go home, I wanta go home,
Well I feel so break up, I wanta go home.
First Mate, he got drunk, broke up the people's
trunk,
Constable had to come and take him away.
Sheriff John Stone, why don't you leave me
alone?
Well I feel so break up, I wanta go home.
The poor cook he caught the fits, threw away all
my grits,
Then he took and ate up all of my corn.
Let me go home, I wanta go home,
This is the worst trip I've ever been on.
Yankee Doodle (1812 Version)
The British long have rul'd the Seas,
With haughty gasconading,
And chaunting songs their Feats of Praise
While others they're degrading.
Yankee Doodle, fire away
Cannon loud as thunder
From brave Decatur, Jones, & Hull,
Makes Johnny Bull knock under.
How we can sing & chaunt likewise,
Of Yankee skill in fighting
Behold, Decatur, with his Prize
Bold Britons now are striking.
The British thought we had not spunk To try them on the Ocean;
But since we've took, & Burnt & Sunk
They've got another notion.
They'll find they've not Monsieur to Meet
But Yankee Boys of Mettle
Who will their Measure all defeat
Unless they shortly settle
To Press our Men they claim the right
But blast their Imposition
We'll let the rascalls know, we'll fight
In Preference to submission
Huzza my Boys we'll fight away
Until they cry pecarie;
Or, with our well aim'd Yankee play
Soon send them to Old Davy