Jack at the Windlass

Come all hands ahoy to the anchor, From our friends and relations to go; Poll blubbers and cries, devil thank her, She'll soon take another in tow; This breeze, like the old one, will kick us, About on the boisterous main, And one day, if death should not trick us, Perhaps we may come back again. With a will ho, then pull away, jolly boys, At the mercy of fortune we go, We're in for't then damme, what folly boys, For to be down-hearted, yo ho!

Our boatswain takes care of the rigging, More specially when he gets drunk, The bobstays supplies him with swigging, He the cable cuts up for old junk; The studding-sail serves for his hammock, With the clue-lines he bought him his call, While ensigns and jacks, in a mammoc, He sold to buy trinkets for Poll. With a will ho, &c.

Of the purser, this here is the maxim, Slops, grog, and provision he sacks; How he'd look if you was but to ax him, With the captain's clerk who 'tis that goes snacks; Oh, he'd find it another guess story— That would bring his bare back to the cat, If his admiral's honor and glory Was only just told about that. With a will ho, &c.

Our chaplain's both holy and godly, And sets us for heaven agog; Yet to my mind he looks rather odly, When he's swearing and drinking of grog; When he took on his knees Betty Bowser, And talk'd of her beauty and charms, Cry'd I, which is the way to heav'n now sir? Why you dog, cried the chaplain, her arms. With a will ho, &c.

The gunner's a devil of a bubber, The carfindo can't fish a mast, The surgeon's a lazy land lubber, The master can't steer if he's ask'd; The lieutenants, conceit are all wrapt in, The mates hardly merit their flip; Nor is there a swab but the captain, Knows the stem from the stern of the ship, With a will ho, &c.

Now fore and aft having abus'd them, Just but for my fancy and gig, Could I find any one that ill us'd them, Dam'me but I'd tickle his wig. Jack never was known for a railer, 'Twas fun ev'ry word that I spoke; And the sign of a true-hearted sailor, Is to give and to take a good joke. With a will ho, &c.