Shanties, Sea Songs, and all that kind of stuff.
A Sailors Prayer
By 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 go out whaling,
Chorus:
Oh lord above, send down a dove with beaks as sharp as razors,
To cut the throats of them there blokes what sells bad beer to sailors!
Paid off m' 'score' and then ashore, m' money soon was flying,
With Judy Lee upon my knee and in my ear she's lying.
With m' new-found friends, m' money spends, just as fast as winking,
But when I make to clear the slate the landlord says: "Keep drinking!".
With m' payoff gone, m' clothes in pawn and Judy set for leaving,
Six months' of pay's gone in three days but Judy isn't grieving.
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 the dawn is breaking.
For one last trip from port I'll ship but next time back I'm swearing,
I'll settle down in my home town, no more I'll go seafaring.
All for me Grog
Chorus:
And it's all for me grog, me jolly jolly grog
All for me beer and tobacco
Well I've spent all me tin with the lassies drinking gin
Far across the western ocean I must wander
I'm sick in the head and I haven't been to bed
Since first I came ashore with me plunder
I've seen centipedes and snakes
And my head is full off aches
And I'll have to make a path for way out yonder
Where are me boots, me noggin' noggin' boots
They're all sold for beer and tobacco
You see the sole's were gettin' thin
And the uppers were letting in
And the heels are looking out for better weather
Where is me shirt me noggin' noggin' shirt
It's all gone for beer and tobacco
You see the sleeves they got worn out
And the collar was turned about
And the tail is looking out for better weather
Where is me wife me noggin' noggin' wife
She's all sold for beer and tobacco
You see her front it got worn out
And her tail been kicked about
And I'm sure she's looking out for better weather
Oh, where is me bed me noggin' noggin' bed
It's all sold for beer and tobacco
You see I sold it to the girls
And the springs they got all twirls
And the sheets they're looking out for better weather
Auckland to the Bluff
Rudy Sunde 1981
​
I left the city when just a lad,
Times were hard and no work to be had,
So I went to sea in the Flora Belle,
Little did I know 'twas a ship from hell.
The ship was old and leaking at the seams,
A dirty old tub somewhat broad in the beam,
Its sails were torn, some planks were rotten,
It lay at the wharf a gently rockin.
​
Chorus:
I've sailed from Auckland to the Bluff
A thousand miles and that's enough
A thousand miles on the heaving sea
Glory Hal-le-lu' that's enough for me
​
We set sail on the evening tide,
It was early on a Saturday night
All went well till the Tiri light,
And then by God I got a fright.
The ship was hit by a big beam sea ,
christ, I thought, it's all up for me;
She rolled and she lollopped like a big tin drum,
Hell! I swore my time had come.
​
"Shorten sails" the skipper cried.
"Shorten the sails or you buggers will all die
Get aloft, get aloft, right up the mast.
Get aloft, get aloft, and get up there fast."
Never in my life had I been so scared.
Never in my life had I wished that I was dead
But I climbed up the mast and I shortened sail.
Then I climbed down again and was sick o'er the rail.
Man the pumps the skipper roared.
Man the pumps or you'll sail the ocean floor
So I pumped all night though my hands were raw,
And I pumped and I pumped 'till the coming of the dawn
How we survived that night I don't know.
The wind it did roar and the wind it did blow
But the sun came up and the sea went down.
The wind did ease and we headed south
For breakfast we had mouldy bread,
For lunch it was the very same fare
For supper we had a stinking stew,
Cookie couldn't eat his own damned brew ,
The skipper was an old man old and mean.
Tough as nails and just as lean
Voice like a foghorn in the gloom,
When he cursed it was a voice of doom.
​
The work was hard and the pay was mean.
The food was rotten, and the quarters none too
The journey south was always rough ,
So I jumped the ship when we pulled into Bluff
So here in Bluff I'll settle down.
Never again will I leave this town
Never again will I go to sea ,
Never again will it see me.
Barretts Privateers
Oh, the year was 1778
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
A letter of marque came from the king
To the scummiest vessel I've ever seen
Chorus:
God damn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers
Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town
Chorus: How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
For twenty brave men all fishermen who
Would make for him the Antelope's crew
The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight
Chorus: How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She'd a list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
On the King's birthday we put to sea
Chorus: How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
We were 91 days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way
On the 96th day we sailed again
Chorus: How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four pounders we made to fight
Now the Yankee lay low down with gold
Chorus: How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She was broad and fat and loose in the stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
Then at length we stood two cables away
Chorus: How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Our cracked four pounders made an awful din
But with one fat ball, the Yank stove us in
​
The Antelope shook and pitched on her side
Chorus: How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the Main truck carried off both me legs
​
So here I lay in my 23rd year
Chorus: How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
It's been 6 years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
​
Chorus:
God damn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers
Billy O'Shea
We all got drunk in Dublin city
Chorus: Fall down me Billies
We all got drunk, and oh what a pity
Chorus: And it's fall down Billy O'Shea
Full chorus:
Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We're bound away for Americay
Fall down Billy O'Shea
We all got drunk on Rogerstone Quay
When we woke we were all at sea
Oh! we're not sailors captain Drew
We've come from land, and we won't work for you
So we hoist him up to ta tops'l yard
He hit the deck and he hit it hard
So we wrapped him up in a big white sheet
Threw him over for the sharks to eat
Extra verses
Says the captain, "I've a cure for that"
"And here for a start is a dose of the cat"
Over the side and down he goes
To Davy Jones with a stitch through his nose
Black Ball Line
In the Black Ball line I served my time
Chorus: To me way-aye-aye, hurray-ah
And that's the line where you can shine
Chorus: Hurrah for the Black Ball Line
The Black Ball Ships are good and true
They are the ships for me and you
For once there was a Black Ball Ship
That fourteen knots an hour could clip
They'll carry you along through frost and snow
And take you where the wind don't blow
You will surely find a rich gold mine
Just take a trip in the Black Ball Line
Just take a trip to Liverpool
To Liverpool, that Yankee school
The Yankee sailors you'll see there
With red-top boots and short-cut hair
At Liverpool docks we bid adieu
To Poll and Bet and lovely Sue
And now we're bound for New York Town
It's there we'll drink, and sorrow drown
Blood Red Roses
Our boots and clothes are all in pawn
Chorus: Get down, ye blood red roses, Get down.
And its flamin' drafty 'round Cape Horn,
Chorus: Get down, ye blood red roses, Get down.
Oh, ye pinks and posies,
Chorus: Get down, ye blood red roses, Get down.
It's 'round Cape Horn we all must go
'Round Cape Stiff in the frost and snow.
Oh, ye pinks and posies,
My dear old mother said to me,
My dearest son, come home from sea.
Oh, ye pinks and posies,
It's growl you may, but go you must,
If you growl too much your head they'll bust.
Oh, ye pinks and posies,
Just one more pull and that will do
For we're the boys to kick her through.
Oh, ye pinks and posies,
Extra verses
You've got your advance, and to sea you'll go
To chase them whales through the frost and snow.
Oh, ye pinks and posies,
It's 'round Cape Horn you've got to go
For that is where them whalefish blow.
Oh, ye pinks and posies,
Blow Boys Blow
Or a Yankee Ship
Well, a Yankee ship sailed down the river
Chorus: Blow, boys, blow
Oh, a Yankee ship in the Congo River
Chorus: Blow, me bully boys, blow
How do you know she's a Yankee clipper?
The Stars and Stripes they fly above her
And who do you think's the skipper of her?
Old Holy Joe the darkie slaver
And what do you think she's got for cargo?
Guns and shot, she runs the embargo
And what do you think we had for breakfast?
The starboard side of and old Sou'wester
What do you think they'll have for dinner?
Hot water soup, but slightly thinner
​
And what do you think we had for supper?
Belaying pin pie and a roll in the scuppers
​
Blow today, and blow tomorrow
Blow for this ship of sorrow
Blow the Man Down
Version 1
I'm a flying fish sailor just home from Hong Kong, Timme
Chorus: Way, hey, blow the man down
If you give me some whisky I'll sing youse a song
Chorus: Oh gimme some time to blow the man down
As I was out cruisn' down Paradise street,timme
A handsome fat policeman I happened to meet,
Say's he 'you're a blackballer, by the cut of your hair, timme
And the long red topped sea boots I see that you wear'.
You're from that flash packet that flies the black ball, timme
And you robbed some poor Dutchman of boots clothes and all
Oh mister, oh mister you've got me quite wrong, timme
I'm a flying fish sailor just home from Hong Kong,
So I spat in his face and I stove in his jaw, timme
Says he now young fellow you're breaking the law
They gave me six months up in old Walton town, timme
For booting, and kicking, and blowing him down
Now all you young fellows that follow the sea, timme
Put your vents to the winds boys and listen to me
I'll give you fair warning before we belay, timme
Stay clear of fat policeman, you'll find it'll pay
Oh blow the man down bullies, blow the man down, timme
Blow him right back to Liverpool town
Blow the Man Down
Version 2
As I was out walkin' down Paradise street, Timme
Chorus: Way hey, blow the man down
A pretty young damsel I chanced for to meet,
Chorus: Give me some time to blow the man down!
She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow Timme
So I took in all sail and cried "way enough now"
I hailed her in English, she answered me clear Timme
"I'm from the Black Arrow bound to the Shakespeare"
So I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow Timme
And yard-arm to yard-arm, away we did go
But as we were a-going she said unto me Timme
"There's a spankin' full rigger just ready for sea"
That spankin' full rigger to New York was bound Timme
She was very well mannered and very well found
But as soon as that packet was clear of the bar Timme
The mate knocked me down with the end of a spar
As soon as that packet was out on the sea Timme
'Twas devilish hard treatment of every degree
So I give you fair warning before we belay Timme
Don't never take heed of what pretty girls say
Blue Dress On
A gal asleep with a blue dress on,
Chorus: Shake 'er Johnny, shake ''er!
She waitin' there for your Uncle Tom,
Chorus: Shake 'er and we'll wake 'er.
This gal she did look good to me,
For I have been ten months at sea.
She's a Down East gal wid a Down East style,
For a dollar a time it's all worth while.
Wake up you bitch and let us in,
Wake up you bitch we want some gin.
Roust an' shake her is the cry,
The bloody topmast sheave is dry!
The big wind comes from the Wes'-nor'-west,
This gal ain't gonner get no rest.
What can you do in Tiger Bay,
But give them flash gals all your pay.
Shake 'er, bullies, oh helm's a-lee,
She'll git washed out wid a big green sea.
Her oilskins they are all in pawn,
It's wet an' draughty 'round Cape Horn.
So roust 'er up from down below,
An' haul away for Uncle Joe.
This gal she is a high-brown lass,
High-brown lass in a flash blue dress.
So roust 'er up be quick I say,
An' make yer port an' take yer pay.
Soon we'll be down Mobile Bay,
Screwin' cotton for to git our pay.
Blue Nose
In the town of Lunenburg down Nova Scotia way
In nineteen twenty-one on a windy day
A sailing ship was born, "Bluenose" was her name
You'll never see her kind again
Chorus:
Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leading in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
For twenty-five long years she ruled the Northern sea
Riding like a queen on the tide
In the Caribbean one dark and stormy day
She ran into a reef and died
Chorus:
Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leading in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
Now just the other day, down Nova Scotia way
In Lunenburg they christened a ship
Just like the old Bluenose, down to the very name
The Bluenose lives and sails again
Chorus:
Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leading in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
Bold Riley
Chorus (repeated after each verse):
Goodbye, my darling, goodbye, my dear O,
Bold Riley O, boom-a-lay
Goodbye, my sweetheart, goodbye, my dear O,
Bold Riley O, gone away
The anchor is weighed and the rags we've all set,
Them Liverpool judies we'll never forget,
The rain it is raining all the day long,
The northerly winds they blow so strong,
Cheer up, Mary Ellen, and don't look so glum,
On white-stocking day you'll be drinking hot rum.
We're outward bound for the Bengal Bay,
Get bending, my lads, it's a hell of a way.
Alternate chorus:
Goodbye, my darling, goodbye, my dear O,
Bold Riley O, boom-a-lay
Goodbye, my darling, goodbye, my dear O,
Bold Riley O, gone away
Boney Was a Warrior
Boney was a warrior,
Way hey ya
A warrior a terrier,
Jean Francois.
For Boney fought the Rooshians,
The Oostrians and Prooshians.
Boney marched on Moscow,
He lost his army in the snow.
Boney was a Frenchyman
But Boney had to turn again.
So he retreated back again
Moscow was in ruins then
We licked him in Trafalgar Bay
Carried his top mast away
Boney went to Elbow,
There he got an overthrow.
He beat the Prooshians fairly,
He beat the English, nearly.
Boney marched to Waterloo
The big-nose Duke, he put him thru.
He met the Duke of Wellington,
That day his downfall had begun.
Boney went a cruisin',
Aboard the Billy Ruffian.
Boney went to Saint Helen,
He never did come back again.
They sent him into exile
He died on St Helena's isle
Boney broke his heart and died,
In Corsica he wished he'd stayed.
For Boney was a Corsican,
A rorty snorty General
I thought I heard the old man say
Just one more pull and then belay
Bonnie Ship the Diamond
The Diamond is a ship, my lads
For the Davis Strait we're bound
The quay it is all garnished
With bonnie lasses 'round
Captain Thompson gives the order
To sail the ocean wide
Where the sun it never sets, my lads
Nor darkness dims the sky
Chorus:
For it's cheer up my lads
Let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond
Goes a-hunting for the whale
Along the quay at Peterhead
The lasses stand aroon
Wi' their shawls all pulled around them
And the salt tears runnin' doon
Don't you weep, my bonnie wee lass
Though you be left behind
For the rose will grow on Greenland's ice
Before we change our mind
Here's a health to the Resolution
Likewise the Eliza Swan
Three cheers for the Battler of Montrose
And the Diamond, ship of fame
We wear the trousers o' the white
The jackets o' the blue
When we get back to Peterhead
We'll hae sweethearts enou'
It will be bright both day and night
When the Greenland lads come hame
Our ship full up with oil, my lads
And money to our name
We'll make the cradles for to rock
And the blankets for to tear
And every lass in Peterhead sing
"Hushabye, my dear"
Chorus x 2
Bound Away
For the sake of you me lassie
Chorus: I’m bound away me lassie
For the sake of you me lassie
Chorus: I’m bound away
Far across away the sea me lassie
Far across away the sea me lassie
Bound to sail the seas to China
Bound aboard an ocean liner
Bound to sail the rolling ocean
Bound away without commotion
So dry your tears and have no more sorrow
For the packet sails tomorrow
For the sake of you me lassie
For the sake of you me lassie
Bully in the Alley
To be 'bully in the alley' was to be completely pissed.
Chorus (after each verse):
So! Help me Bob, I'm bully in the alley
Way-ay, hay-ay, bully in the alley
So! Help me Bob, I'm bully in the alley
Bully down in Shinbone Al
Well, Sally is a girl from down our ally
Way-ay, ay-ay, bully in the alley
Well, Sally is the girl that I spliced nearly
Bully down in Shinbone Al
For seven long years I courted little Sally
Way-hey, hey-hey, bully in the alley
But all she did was dilly and dally
I left Sally and to go a sailin'
Left my Sal to go a-whalin'
I found myself down on the quay'o
Found my self with time so free'o
I walked up to the Jenny Lind'o
Kicked in the door and strode right in'o
And there I met with greasy Annie
Greasy Ann's a slimy whore'o
We tossed and tumbled all night long'o
And in the morn the cock did crow'o
I left my Sal to go a sailin'
I left my Sal to go a whalin
Bye Bye my Roseanna
Oh Roseann, my Roseann
Chorus: Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
Oh Roseann, sweet Roseann
Chorus: I won't be home tomorrow.
Full Chorus:
Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye,
Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye,
I won't be home tomorrow.
The ships are sailing around the bend,
Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
All loaded down with fishermen
I won't be home tomorrow.
Refrain:
A dollar a day's a fisherman's pay
Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
It's easy come, easy go away
I won't be home tomorrow.
Refrain:
We're bound away, across the bay
Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
We're bound away at the break of day
I won't be home tomorrow.
Refrain:
Oh Roseann, sweet Roseann
Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
Oh Roseann, sweet Roseann
I won't be home tomorrow.
Full Chorus: (x2)