Victoria Nautical Song Circle's
September 2002 Song Of The Month


GET UP JACK, JOHN SIT DOWN (JOLLY ROVING TAR )

(Capstan Shanty)

Ships may come and ships may go,
As long as the sea does roll,
Each sailor lad just like his dad,
He loves the flowing bowl.
A trip ashore he does adore, With the girl that's plump and round,
Chorus:
  When your money's gone,
It's the same old song,
"Get up, Jack! John, sit down."

Come along, come along, you jolly brave boys
There's lots of grog in the jar,
We'll plow the briny ocean
With the jolly rovin' tar!

 
When Jack gets in, it's then he'll steer
For some old boarding house,
They'll welcome him with rum and gin,
They'll feed him on pork scouse.
He'll lend and spend and not offend
'Til he lies drunk on the ground.
  Chorus
 
He then will sail aboard some ship
For India or Japan,
In Asia there, the ladies fair
All love the sailor man.
He'll go ashore and on a tear
He'll buy some girl a gown,
  Chorus
 
When Jack gets old and weatherbeat,
Too old to roam about,
In some rum shop, they'll let him stop
'Til eight bells calls him out.
He'll raise his eyes up to the skies,
Sayin' "Boys, we're homeward bound!"
  Chorus


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