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To be a sailor big and bold
that was the life for me
To go aloft and reef the sails
above a stormy sea
Up there in the rigging
in a Force 9 gale
The wind can play havoc
with a trendy ponytail.
Heave and haul away!
Let the mainsail fly!
Kiss the gunner’s daughter
and we’ll pump the bilges dry.
We beat the French and Spanish
by spiking up our guns
With bully beef and biscuits
- it gave them all the runs.
Twenty days to round the Horn
soaked in sweat and spray
But I was never seasick -
more than twenty times a day.
Heave and haul away!
Let the mainsail fly!
Kiss the gunner’s daughter
and we’ll pump the bilges dry.
We were into body art
with tattoos on our skin
Some had naked ladies
or names of next of kin.
Bosun had a hunting scene
right on his backside.
No prize for guessing
where the fox was going to hide.
Heave and haul away!
Let the mainsail fly!
Kiss the gunner’s daughter
and we’ll pump the bilges dry.
I knew the name of every sail
and every block and tackle.
and every halyard and line
and every single shackle.
When a man fell overboard
I shouted “Grab this line!”
but I forgot my pants were held up
by that piece of twine.
Heave and haul away!
Let the mainsail fly!
Kiss the gunner’s daughter
and we’ll pump the bilges dry
Night times at the wheel
how my heart would sing with joy
Alone with just the stars
and a simple cabin boy.
Heave away me hearties
for England we will steer
Now come and dance the hornpipe
but don’t get too damn near.
Heave and haul away!
Let the mainsail fly!
Kiss the gunner’s daughter
and we’ll pump the bilges dry.
But I’ve never been a sailor
that was not the life for me
A humble civil servant
is all I’ll ever be.
Instead I’ll grow a beard
cup one hand around my ear.
And sing a load of nonsense
just like we’re doing here.
Heave and haul away!
Let the mainsail fly!
Kiss the gunner’s daughter
and we’ll pump the bilges dry.
Yes I’ll strut around in jeans
with a gold ring in each ear
and sing a load of B.......
just like we’re doing here. �