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Thread: Sea Shanty

  1. #1
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    Default Sea Shanty

    SEA SHANTY

    There was Port and there was Starboard,
    But they used to call Port: Larboard.
    And the two dogs on the fo'csle held the chain.
    Then there's For'd and there's Aft
    Which is (from A'beam,) A'baft,
    And the Mizzen never stands A'fore the Main.

    There were Farmers (without pigs,)
    A-rabs, Lascars, Schooner Rigs,
    Lots of (right hand,) feeding after Ramadan.
    There was Panama and Mokes,
    And a mob of red eyed blokes
    From the 12 to 4 Watch, eyeing the Blackpan.

    You could Heave To, Broach, Careen,
    Two of fat and one of lean
    Hungry Harrisons' (from out of Liverpool.)
    Or 'buff with black on top'
    Where the Bosun's name was Bop,
    And both his thumbs were Fids, (a splicing tool.)

    You could 'Stand By' or 'Turn To'
    Take the Trick from twelve til two'
    Rig a Jumbo or just Holystone the Deck;
    Chippin'ammer 'cross the Atlantic,
    Whitelead'n'tallow the Triatic,
    Watch the Stemhead break the ice up near Quebec.

    There were Tabnabs, there was Scouse,
    Scuppers, Bulwarks, a Wheelhouse,
    And drums were lashed A'baft the Lazerette.
    You could 'Skin Out' of a Tanker,
    Paint the Truck a'top the Spanker,
    Soogie Funnels, hung on Gantlines, Fleet by Fleet.

    You could 'Sign On' and 'Pay Off',
    Turn your head away and cough;
    Get the 'Channels' when the orders were Lands End.
    Shackle to a Samson Post,
    Blame the Liverpool Man's Ghost,
    Or there's always an Allotment you could send.


    There were Ratlines and Crosstrees,
    No Blue Jeans, just Dungarees;
    Fifteen hundred 'Girls' for hire down in Recife.
    There were 'Plummers' down the 'Mouth',
    One of Ropner's heading south,
    Where the mail would go ashore at Tenerife.

    There were Shifting Boards and Dunnage
    And you knew the average tonnage
    Of a Port Boat, steaming by at Fifteen Knots.
    The Welsh Donkeyman from Hants
    And the slack in Trimmer's pants,
    And the 4 to 8 Watch, stinking in their cots.

    Shonky Bum Boats at Port Said,
    Gun'ls, Gimbals and Redlead;
    Roaring Forties, Round the Horn and Abadan.
    There were Palm and Needle Whippings,
    Lots of Mother Carey's chickens,
    And a Fine Bone China Tea Set, from Japan.

    There were Doxfords and Twin Screws,
    And the strangest looking stews
    Came from Galleys' where the cook was often called
    Names that questioned if his Dad
    Had been married, or just mad,
    Or just needed all his tackle overhauled.

    The Red Duster, Carrick Bend,
    Take a turn on the Drum End;
    Starboard Helm, now, Steady As She Goes.
    Port Side Bitts, Pacific Swells,
    1 to 6 HEAVE, Seven Bells;
    Get that Stopper on, LOOK LIVELY ON YOUR TOES.

    Stockholm Tar and Cleaning Tanks,
    Liberty Ships and Dogger banks,
    Shifting Ship round to the Royal Edward Dock.
    Monkey's Fist, Splice with the Lay,
    First and Last, Logged two day's pay,
    Last Pierhead Jump before She's through the Lock.

    Hatchboards, Coamings, Bosun's Chair,
    Bowsed right in under the Flare,
    New Year's 16 Bells (in Denmark's Esbjerg Sound.)
    Mouse that Hook and Masthead Light,
    Malacca Straits, Australian Bight,
    Sixteen Indian Rupees to the Pound.

    Oakum, Sextant, Fo'csle Head;
    Maracaibo, Swing the Lead;
    Drop the Pilot, Single Up and Spit a'lee.
    Capstan Full Strength, On the Rake,
    Sounds that sailors used to make;
    Merchant Seamen's sounds that floated on the sea.

    All these strange sounds; now they're gone;
    Merchant Seamen lost their song;
    The Iron Ships rust; the Wooden Men quietly gaze,
    Reminiscing in their beer,
    "Remember: Elson...Hopton...Kear...??"
    "I wonder what they're doing, now-a-days."


    Reg Kear © 1992. Australia
    Last edited by Brian Probetts (Site Admin); 20th August 2018 at 11:06 PM.

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    fantastic! memories in every line. j. dodd.

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    Thumbs up Happy times

    Hi Reg Kear,Brings lump to throat, and salt water to the eyes' "Glorious"

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  6. #4
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    Default Great poem Reg

    The memories come flooding back with every word! Thanks Reg!

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    Fantastic listening to music. Your a diamond Reg. Anthony Atkinson R796905

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    Default Thanks Reg

    Reg,

    Thanks for posting your poem I came across a word copy when I was having a clear out.

    As others have rightly said it brings memories flooding back, of times, mates and ships long gone.

    God bless your gift

    Regard

    Steve R770014

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    word for word the best poem ever, every word brings back a memory
    Thanks and Cheers Reg.
    Brian.

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    Thanks for that poem Reg. Reading it brings everything back and makes you realise what a privilege it was to be in the Merchant Navy. Brilliant piece of prose.
    John C.

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    Today's youngsters are so unfortunate. They'll never have the menories we have. They'll be hard put to find a ship they can go to sea on.

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    Default Around The Bouy

    Hi Reg
    Oh many is the day that i sit and read that lovely little Book of Poems you so kindly sent to me ,quite some time ago!
    There are so many good Poems in it,that it is really hard to pick which is the best,but to me they are all great!
    Yes many bring the old memories back to me,and it will be everlasting !
    Once gain may i thank you for that lovely gift,it a treasure as are many other little Items i have received over the past few Years,not forgeting the Pennant from PJ!
    Cheers

    http://www.merchant-navy.net/gallery...s-gift&cat=512
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 9th February 2011 at 09:01 PM.
    Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website

    R697530

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