Leather & Pine

by Micky Slinger

They laced it up before I was born
Over the years it’s been broken and worn
Passed through the hands of the men of this ship
Clenched in the teeth of those under the whip
At the gunners daughter or at the gratings
Single lash or a savage beating
All men aboard a ship of the line
Sure get a taste for leather & pine.

Bite, bite with all of your might
Hang you for sure if you put up a fight
And it’s be brave for all of your men
No telling when it might happen to them

I have seen men be broke by the whip
The thought of it now still turns me to sick
The fear in their eyes the sweat on their brow
Won’t stay the hand the wields the cat now
No whispered words of comfort or grace
sure for the fear of taking his place
Only one gesture is given in kind
Give him a taste of leather & pine

Bite, bite with all of your might
Hang you for sure if you put up a fight
And it’s be brave for all of your men
No telling when it might happen to them

And so it will pass from crew to crew
Watch to watch and ship to ship to
Making it’s way through all class and station
Soaking up pain and humiliation
A hand on your shoulder when your back is bleedin’
a gag to keep you from begging and pleadin’
Some even swear it’ll keep you from dyin’
A thin bit of leather and a dowel of pine

Bite, bite with all of your might
Hang you for sure if you put up a fight
And it’s be brave for all of your men
No telling when it might happen to them

And it’s bite, bite with all of your might
Hang you for sure if you put up a fight
And it’s be brave for all of your men
No telling when it might happen to them