Jack The Sailor
Traditional:
courtesy of www.SailorSongs.com
When I first landed in Liverpool I went upon a spree
Being paid off at last I spent it fast got drunk as drunk could be
And when me money was all gone it was then I wanted more
A man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more
Once more, once more, once more, me lads once more
A man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more
A Lime Street girl drew up to me and offered me a bed
But when I awoke on the next day’s morn with me watch and me money she’d fled
And as I walk the streets about the whores they all do roar
"There goes young Jack the sailor lad he must go to sea once more"
Once more, once more, once more, me lads once more
"There goes young Jack the sailor lad he must go to sea once more"
As I was walking down the street I met with Jackie Brown
I asked him if he’d take me in, he eyed me with a frown
He said, "Last time you was paid off with me you ran up a score
But I’ll take a chance and I’ll give an advance and I’ll send you to sea once more"
Once more, once more, once more, me lads once more
But I’ll take a chance and I’ll give an advance and I’ll send you to sea once more"
He shipped me aboard a whaling ship that was bound for Arctic seas
Where the cold winds blow and the frost and snow would make your rum ration freeze
And worse to say I’ve no hard weather gear for I’ve lost all me money ashore
My God, how I wish that I was dead and I’d go to sea no more
No more, no more, no more, me lads no more
My God, how I wish that I was dead and I’d go to sea no more
Sometimes we’re catching whales, me lads and sometimes we’re catching none
With a twenty foot oar stuck in your hand from four o’clock in the morn
And when the shades of night come on you rest your weary oar
Tis then that you wish that you were dead or safe with the girls ashore
Ashore, ashore, ashore me lads ashore
It's then that you wish that you were dead or safe with the girls ashore
So come all you bold seafaring lads and listen to me song
When you come off those long, long trips I pray you’ll never go wrong
Take my advice, drink no strong wine and take up with no whore
Get married instead, have all night in bed and go to sea no more
No more, no more, no more, me lads no more
Get married instead, have all night in bed and go to sea no more
The author of this website has put a lot of time and effort into gathering the greatest collection of sea shanties for the world to enjoy - There are songs that have been to sung to a job of work at sea for many, many years and collecting them has been a great endeavour. - Roger Chartier has made the effort out of his own interest and the requests that he has gotten to do this work from fellow musicians who wanted a good source of sea shanties to draw on and learn from. He has been told that for this effort he is a remarkable man.
