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


SERAFINA

(Halliard Shanty)

In Callao there lives a gal
Whose name is Serafina
  Serafina! Serafina!
She sleeps all day and 'works' all night
On the old Cally Marina
  Serafina! Oh, Serafina!
 
She's the queen, me boys, of all the gals
That live in the ole' Casino,
Serafina! Serafina!
She used to 'kiss' for monkey nuts
But now she 'works' for vino.
  Serafina! Oh, Serafina!
 
At robbin' silly sailors, boys,
No gal was ever keener,
  Serafina! Serafina!
She'll make you pay right through the nose,
That lovely Serafina!
  Serafina! Oh, Serafina!
 
She'll guzzle pisco, beer and gin,
On rum her mum did wean her,
  Serafina! Serafina!
She smokes just like a chimney stack
On a P.S.N.C steamer.
  Serafina! Oh, Serafina!
 
Serafina's got no 'shoes',
I been ashore an' seen 'er,
  Serafina! Serafina!
She's got no time to put them on,
That hard-worked Serafina.
  Serafina! Oh, Serafina!
 
When I was young an' in me prime,
I first met Serafina,
  Serafina! Serafina!
In Callao we saw the sights
An' then went up to Lima.
  Serafina! Oh, Serafina!
 
But the finest sight I ever saw
Was little Serafina,
  Serafina! Serafina!
But the very next day as we sailed away,
I wished I'd never been there.
  Serafina! Oh, Serafina!
 
For I wuz skint, me clothes wuz gone,
An' so wuz Serafina,
  Serafina! Serafina!
She'd done me brown, she'd sunk me down,
That dirty she-hyena!
  Serafina! Oh, Serafina!
 
I used to love a little girl
Whose name was Serafina,
  Serafina! Serafina!
But she's gone off with a Dago man
Who plays a concertina.
  Serafina! Oh, Serafina!


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