True Blue

Blue is the sea we sail on, And blue is the sky above, And blue are the eyes As sea or skies Of the maiden whom I love: And blue is the flag we’re under, And blue is the coat I wear; But brighter the blue, And deeper the hue In the eyes which I hold so dear! Bluer and brighter and sweeter, Fonder and fair and as true; Oh it’s blue love and true love for ever! And God bless the beautiful blue!

Now supper being over, every man Lighted his pipe or called for a cigar, Lolled in his chair—and all again began To order “something lively” from the bar. Jack Saltonstall, intent on keeping peace, Waved a great South Sea club, and said, “I’m sent By Providence to act as your police;” And at the table sat as President. He was a man of pleasing dignity, And all allowed he would a captain be, Calming all quarrels with a word and wink; He had hot rum and lemon for his drink. And as he sat in state, with the club of peace Which he had taken from the chimney-piece, He said to us: “What tales this bat could tell Of many a battle—many a busted shell, And murdered victims by the surfy shore, And cani-bally feasts when all was o’er!”

Quoth Sam of Jersey, “I hev seen such things Among them natives, ordered by their kings, As well might make a common pirate weep, And the old devil feel uncommon cheap: Such derned, infernal deeds, and parst all showin’, Pirates and slavers ain’t the worst folk goin’. There’s things to which the worst they do is slow; I’ve lived among ’em an I ort to know. And yet among those natives there are some As mild as lambs, and good and humoursome; Who never fight no more than an old hen, Such difference there is in mortal men. I’ll tell you now a tale, to make you sport, Of one who chanced among this gentle sort.”