Blow the Man Down

[Bartholomew Foulsteel]

Well mates, time for some more frivolity laced with a bit of history. I'm sure all of ye have a vague notion of the way the Sea Shanty Blow the Man Down goes, but here bee the ferreal and fer true version! Feel free to sing along as ye read it. Grab yer mates on Vent and all have a go. Really, it makes sweatin' the Spanker halyards a bit more fun!

As I was out walking down Government Street,
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
Charlotte Firemenace I happened to meet.
Give us some time to blow the man down!

She asked if I'd like to take her to tea,
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
And when I awoke, I was two days at sea!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

Molly Blue she does call me, and says to me, 'Dear,'
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
"Y'er not at y'er Yacht Club, ye'll do no slagging here!"
Give us some time to blow the man down!

Samule's a Bluenose, a case-hardened guy,
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
Ye'd best do as your told, and ye never ask why!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

Grizzly's an odd one. He 'as such a kind face.
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
But he never says, "Boys, we'll splice the main brace!"
Give us some time to blow the man down!

And talk of Truesilver, boys, she's tougher than tough.
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
In handling poor sailors she's rougher than rough!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

Redfury's is a tyrant! She's never at ease.
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
With 'Bible' and 'Prayerbook' yer n'er off yer knees!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

Ben dreadgull's sa stingy, with his stores he's so mean,
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
On short weighting and pinting poor sailors, he's awfully keen!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

Dear Lizzy's a soaker who loves a good booze,
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
'Twixt her and Ben Dreaddgull there's nothing to choose!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

Ben's duff is like rubber and heavy as lead!
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
With roaches a plenty for raisins instead!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

I don't like sailing this cranky old tub,
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
With no grog given out, and the poorest of grub!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

So blow the man down, Bullies! Blow the man down!
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
'Cause we're homeward bound to PDF town!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

When we get to port, boys, I'm leavin' the sea.
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
And I'll never again take a damsel to tea!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

Well now that I've come to the end of my lay,
Wey! Hey! Blow the man down.
For the tops'l's aloft - three more hard tugs, then avast and belay!
Give us some time to blow the man down!

[combatlizzy]

sweatin the Spanker halyards? You are a gifted linguist, Boss....Have no idear what that means...lol

But the poem is awesome...Darn Char & her tea...sea what she started?

[Eliza Creststeel]

I never knew the lyrics about the fella' in the song who was press-ganged into a crew... a fun song about a pretty tough time. Waking up in the service of a ship was not a rarity then.

Getting 'drafted' is long the same lines, as to why tankards often that see-thru glass bottoms in them.

[Samule Sworddogger]

LOL Bossman, could taste the salt in the air with that shanty :-)