Victoria Nautical Song Circle's
January 2004 Song Of The Month

ROW BULLIES ROW

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 put out to sea for the port of New York.
 
Chorus:
And it's row,
Row bullies, row,
Them Liverpool girls
They have got us in tow!
 
For forty-two days we was hungry and sore,
For the wind was agin us and the gales they did roar,
But off Battery Point we did anchor at last,
With the jib boom hove to and the canvas all fast.
 
Chorus:
 
Them boardin' house masters was aboard in a trice,
A-shoutin' and promisin' all that was nice,
And one fat old crimp took a fancy to me,
And he said I was foolish to follow the sea.
 
Chorus:
 
Says he, "There's a job as is waiting for you,
With lashings of liquor and nothing to do."
"Now what do you say lad, will you jump to?"
Says I, "You old bleeder, I'm damned if I do."
 
Chorus:
 
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 he doctored me drink.
 
Chorus:
 
The next I remember I woke in the morn,
On a three-skys'l yarder bound south 'round the Horn,
With an old suit of oilskins and two pairs of socks,
And an IOU nailed to the lid of me box.
(Alternate last line - And a bloomin' great head and a dose of the pox.)
 
Chorus:
 
Now all you young seamen take a warning by me,
Keep an eye on your drinks when the liquor is free,
And pay no attention to runner or whore
When your hat's on your head and your feet on the shore.
 
Chorus:
 

transcribed from the CD "Blow The Man Down"

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