Victoria Nautical Song Circle's
January 2001 Song Of The Month


BLOOD RED ROSES

(Halliard Shanty)

  As I was goin' round Cape Horn,
 Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
 I wish to Christ I'd never been born.
 
 Chorus:
 Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
 Oh, you pinks and posies,
 Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
 
 Our boots and clothes is all in pawn,
 Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
 And it's flamin' drafty round Cape Horn.
 
 Chorus
 
 You've spent your money & to sea you must go!
 Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
 To load saltpeter in Callao.
 
 Chorus
 
 Me dear old mother, she wrote to me,
 Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
 "Come home me darlin', from the sea."
 
 Chorus
 
  "Oh, rock her and shake her" is the cry,
 Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
 The bloody tops'l sheave is dry.
 
 Chorus
 
 Taken from "Shanty Seattle".
 


To Victoria Nautical Song Circle main page or Previous Songs Of The Month List.