The life of the liverpool sailor.

17/03/2013 LIFE OF THE LIVERPOOL SAILOR.

ITS TEN LONG YEARS SINCE I LEFT THE SEA
IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY
SO UNTIL OLD NEPTUNE CALLS ME HOME
MY SQUEEZEBOX I WILL PLAY. CH.

IVE STOOD THE MIDDLE WATCH AND SAW
THE GREEN FIRE AT OUR BOWS
IVE STEERED BY THE STARS BOTH SWIFT AND SURE
RIGHT DOWN TO THE AZORES
IVE WATCHED THE DOLPHINS LEAD US ON
AND MAKE THEM FISHES FLY
AND SCATTER ON OUR QUARTER DECK
 LIKE MANNA FROM THE SKY.

SOME NIGHTS I CUT ME SCRIMSHAW WORK
ON THE NARWALS SHINING HORN
SOMETIMES I WORKED ME SPANISH BLADE
RIGHT TO THE CRACK OF DAWN
THEN LIT THE BOILER MADE THE GRUEL
AND FED THE HUNGRY CREW
WITH TASTY WANGS OF SALTY HAM
AND BOWLS OF HOT BURGOUT

I SAILED ALONG DAHOMEYS COAST
AND TIED UP TO A TREE
AND HUNTED FOR THE GAVIAL
WITH MUD UP TO ME KNEE
THE FEVERS TOOK A LOT OF TARS
THEY DIED OF YELLOWJACK
SO WE TOOK ABOARD THE NATIVE LADS
TO HELP US SAIL HER BACK

IVE CRACKED ALONG AT 40 KNOTS
ON SLEEK AND SPEEDY CLIPPERS
IVE HAULED IN CAPECOD LOBSTER POTS
 AND WORKED FOR BUMBOAT SKIPPERS
IVE FROZE ON GREENLAND WHALING BOATS
AND SAILED AROUND THE HORN
WHERE I SAW THE FLASHING TOUGUES OF FLAME
LIGHT UP THE GLOWING DAWN

WELL NOW IM OLD AND MY BEARD IS WHITE
WHERE ONCE WAS BLACK BEFORE
 I WATCH THE STEAMERS STANDING OUT
FROM THE PERCH ROCK AT THE SHORE
 I TAKE ME STICK AND WANDER HOME
AND CLOSE ME COTTAGE DOOR
THEN POUR A RUM AND WISH THAT I
 COULD GO TO SEA ONCE MORE . ©mike locke