The River Lea
Traditional:
courtesy of www.SailorSongs.com
>It was one fine day in the month of May
And I was out ward bound
I had no tin for to buy some gin
So I walked the streets all round.
My shirt was out at the elbows
And I was sore in need
So I shipped as a jolly sailor
On board of the River Lea.
>CHORUS
I'll go to sea no more beat down the Bay of Fundy
Forever more I'll stay on shore I'll go to sea no more.
>No more I'll my first lookout
No more I'll take my wheel
No more at the cry up aloft I'll fly
While Aye, Aye Sir I squeal.
No more I'll reef those tops'ls
No more I'll brace that spanker in
On board of the River Lea...CHORUS
>No more I'll put the lee fore brace,
Nor by royal halyards stand
No more I'll ride those swifters down
With a tarpot in my hand.
No more I'll cross those royal yards
Nor furl that flying jib
No more I'll shift gaff-tops'ls tacks
On board of the River Lea...CHORUS
>I've sailed the Western Ocean
I've sailed the raging main.
But I've made it a rule, I won't be a fool
And go to sea again.
I'll stay at home in comfort
And good advice I'll give:
Don't ever ship as a sailor
On board of the River Lea...CHORUS
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.
