Music of Tortuga
On a cold gloomy morning came upon we a port
our spirits were low and our supplies were short.
Storm had just ended leaving need for repair
when we heard the sweet music drifting up through the air.
Well our hearts warmed with hope when we saw the dim light
that shown through the fog like the stars in the night
Then came a call from the crow’s nest above,
“Me lads this be the port Tortuga!”
Now a ship of the fleet would be not welcome here
so we cut some dark canvas we’d stowed with the gear
and with some white washing that we had aboard
we painted a visage of skull and crossed sword.
When the gangplank hit dock we let out a cheer
our thoughts turned to women to food and to beer.
We ran for the taverns like children to faire
“Me lads welcome the port Tortuga!”
We ate, we drank, we danced and sang
me boys sing “Tu-ra-lu-ra”
The tankards clanked and the headboards banged
to the music of Tortuga.
And so by the time that the sun it went down
we was all good and drunk and were stumbling around.
Wide swung the door and our captain walked in
he looked at us all and he said with a grin,
“Such a sorry lot I never did see
you call yourselves sailors you’re no good to me”
“Well sir me captain this port it ain’t Rome
No sir this be the port Tortuga!”
We ate we drank we danced and sang
me boys sing “Tu-ra-lu-ra”
The tankards clanked and the headboards banged
to the music of Tortuga.
And so for a fortnight we worked all day long
and spent our nights drinking with women and song.
Traded some cargo for rigging and nails
and cut some clean canvas to patch up our sails.
On the night that we set out for the fleet of our queen
and every night since when I lay down to dream
out in the darkness I swear I can hear
that sweet music of Tortuga.
We ate we drank we danced and sang
me boys sing “Tu-ra-lu-ra”
The tankards clanked and the headboards banged
to the music of Tortuga
To Glory We Steer
by Micky Slinger
When the hands were raised by the morning light
With a “deck there starboard enemy in sight”
By the Devil’s eye they’re in for a fight
So hoist our colors true…
Sailing hard and fast on a downward tack
Bearing 16 guns ‘neath a flag of black
Boys now there ain’t no looking back
Upon the sea so blue…
True, the sea was calm and the wind was fair
When the orders came “fire as you bear!”
To cripple the bitch and collect our share
For serving on the crew…
To Glory We Steer, Our home is on the sea.
On the fearsome Drunken Dragon sails our Devilish company.
To Glory We Steer, to die or to be free.
To Glory We Steer…
With the first volley like a toppling crown
Her whole main yard came crashing down
Like an eager harlot’s evening gown
And her mizzen split in two…
Then through the smoke came her reply
A ragged tattoo shook the pale blue sky
“helm a lee” came the bosun’s cry
“May the Dragon get her due!”
We came about with cannons bared
Long orange tongues licked at the air
And the swivels caught them unaware
As the grape shot ripped right through…
To Glory We Steer, Our home is on the sea.
On the fearsome Drunken Dragon sails our Devilish company.
To Glory We Steer, to die or to be free.
To Glory We Steer…
Our Captain raised his flashing sword
And the call came down “prepare to board!”
The crew at arms reared back and roared
“The Dragon’s come for you!”
On the quarter deck begun the fight
With pistol fire and cutlass might
And their Captain’s face went lily white
When our master ran him through…
With the crew dispatched, we checked the hold
Found sugar, rum, and Spanish gold
A handsome fare for a venture bold
And the Dragon gets her due…
To Glory We Steer, Our home is on the sea.
On the fearsome Drunken Dragon sails our Devilish company.
To Glory We Steer, to die or to be free.
To Glory We Steer…
Irish Rover
Traditional
In the year of our lord eighteen hundred and six
we set sail from the cold quay of Cork (cold Cork!)
we were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
for the grand city hall in New York
we’d an elegant craft she was rigged fore-and-aft
and oh how the trade winds drove her
she had twenty three masts and she ‘stood several blasts
And they called her the Irish Rover
We had one million bags of our best sligo rags
we had two million barrels of stone
we had three million sides of old blind horse’s hides
we had four million barrels of bone
we had five million hogs and six million dogs
and seven million barrels of porter
we had eight million bales of old nanny goats tails
in the hold of the Irish Rover
There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee
there was Hogan from County Tyrone
There was Dudley McGurk who was scared stiff of work
and our chaplin from Meath called Malone
there was Slugger O’ Tool who was drunk as a rule
and Fightin’ Bill Tracy from Dover
and your Man Mick McCann from the banks of the Bann
was the skipper of the Irish Rover
We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
and our ship lost her way in a fog (great fog!)
and that whale of a crew was reduced down to two
just meself and the captain’s old dog (big dog!)
well the ship struck a rock, oh lord what a shock
and nearley tumbled over
turned nine times around,
and the poor old dog was drowned…
I’m the last of the Irish Rover!
Cruiscan Lan
Let the farmer praise his grounds, let the huntsman praise his hounds,
Let the shepherd praise his dewy scented lambs;
oh but I, more wise than they, spend each happy night and day
With my darlin’ little cruiscin lan, lan, lan
Oh, my darlin little cruiscin lan.
Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiscin, slainte geal mavoorneen
Gra-machree ma cruiscin lan lan lan,
Oh! gramachree ma cruiscan lan
Immortal and divine, great Bacchus, god of wine
Create me by adoption your own son.
In the hopes that you’ll comply, that my glass shall ne’er run dry
Nor my darlin’ little cruiscan lan lan lan
My darlin’ little cruiscan lan
Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiscin, slainte geal mavoorneen
Gra-machree ma cruiscin lan lan lan,
Oh! gramachree ma cruiscan lan
And when cruel Death appears, in a few but happy years,
And says “why don’t you come along with me”,
I’ll say, ‘Begone, you knave! For King Bacchus gave me leave
To fill another cruiscan lan lan lan
To take another cruiscan lan
Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiscin, slainte geal mavoorneen
Gra-machree ma cruiscin lan lan lan,
Oh! gramachree ma cruiscan lan
So fill our glasses high, let’s not part with lips so dry
although the lark proclaims it is the dawn
and since we can’t remain may we shortly meet again
To fill another cruiscan lan lan lan
to share another cruscan lan
Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiscin, slainte geal mavoorneen
Gra-machree ma cruiscin lan lan lan,
Oh! gramachree ma cruiscan lan
Parson of the Pub
by Cray Z. Fish
I was born in the galley of a cargo ship
that they called the Southern Star
I was raised on the reading of the word of God
counting cards and tending bar.
The mast was my steeple, the poop deck my pew,
my bishop was a mouse.
Scurvy and starvation were my congregation
til I bought a public house.
Now it’s Ho-Heave-Ho and ya Raise a glass
And you’ll never be a failure
It’s easy to be the Parson of the Pub
When you grew up preaching to the sailors.
My daddy was an English protestant
My mother was a Scot.
I thought I would wear the pants in my clan
but this Kilt was all I got.
They asked me which block was my favorite flock
ever since I was a nipper.
Puritans, I confess, will make a smaller mess,
but Catholics are much better tippers.
And it’s Ho-Heave-Ho and ya Raise a glass
And you’ll never be a loser
It’s easy to be the Parson of the Pub
Cause a beggar cannot be a chooser.
The stated position of the Inquisition
is I should go underground.
As long as I’m gone before they flame on,
I’ll be safe and sound.
My religious views may not be big news
but still they get people thinkin’.
Cause mercy is mercy, the word is the truth,
and everyone’s blessed when you’re drinkin!
And it’s Ho-Heave-Ho and ya Raise a glass
And you never can deny it.
It’s easy to be the Parson of the Pub
The hard part is keepin’ it quiet.
Now I don’t get nervous when folks ask for service
I just keep it straight in my head:
You don’t read Last Rites to the bride and the groom
and you don’t baptize someone who’s dead.
A man came to christen, my holy water’s missin’
and my wellspring ran unclear,
but he was a sinner in need of salvation
so I baptized him with beer.
And it’s Ho-Heave-Ho and ya Raise a glass
And you’ll never have to fear it.
It’s easy to be the Parson of the Pub
Cause everybody’s in the spirit!
When I first encountered Captain Micky Slinger
he showed me his pistol and sword.
So he keeps me in silver and spice from the East
and I keeps him right with the Lord.
Cause two Charlie Pirates were gambling one night
with our drunken Irish Bard,
So I fed them mead and whiskey and beer
and fed Mick some extra cards.
And it’s Ho-Heave-Ho and ya Raise a glass
And you’ll never be decoded
It’s easy to be the Parson of the Pub
Cause the patrons aren’t the only thing that’s loaded!
So love your fellow man. That is the holy plan
and the recipe for great fun.
So let’s raise a toast to the Holy Ghost
to the Father and to the Son.
And tonight we’ll cavort with the girls of the Court
and we’ll drink with our bretheren.
So let’s finish Mass and fill up your glass
and somebody say A-Men! (Amen!)
And it’s Ho-Heave-Ho and ya Raise a glass
And you’ll never be a liar
It’s easy to be the Parson of the Pub
Cause you’re always preaching to the Choir!
And it’s Ho-Heave-Ho and ya Raise a glass
And you’ll never be a liar
It’s easy to be the Parson of the Pub
Cause you’re always preaching to the Choir!
Cutthroat Life
Well I am not afraid to die in battle
blades of steel or cannon fire
I sail the sea and live for me
my freedom is but one desire
Men I’ve killed not on my conscience
I drown all my sins in rum
indulging in such guilty pleasures
I’ve no fear of kingdom come
Yo Ho! Heave Ho!
As a Pirate I am free
It’s a Cutthroat Life for me!
Well I staked my claim in the Spanish Main
as many others did the same
might have been poor where we was bore
but now we’re sure of wealth and fame
always quick to clear for action
quicker still with wench attire
lust for treasure live for pleasure
freedom is but one desire
Yo Ho! Heave Ho!
As a Pirate I am free
It’s a Cutthroat Life for me!
Call me thief or beggar, scallywag
or any name you choose to goad
As a Pirate I am free
it’s a Cutthroat Life for me
Well don’t tell me the rules you have
I live my life by the bretherens code
As a Pirate I am free
it’s a Cutthroat Life for me
Yo Ho! Heave Ho!
As a Pirate I am free
It’s a Cutthroat Life for me
YO HO!
Samhain Sun
A cold October wind was blowing
cross the decks of the Samhain Sun
silently paddling through the black water
facing our duty there’s work to be done
Twenty of us were packed in each longboat
Up o’er the side and onto the decks
not a word whispered from the sailors on watch
just silent screams out of freshly cut necks
I only wanted to do by my duty
Never prepared for the horrors I’d see
Not enough rum here to forget their faces
Not enough whiskey to drown out their pleas
Seven on deck we dispatched without notice
then to the lower decks we crept
the captain and crew we killed in their hammocks
Then found where the women and children were kept
So we began to take them all for’d
the lieutenant had four of us find them a cell
and had us lock up all the children and ordered
the women be bound in the wardroom be held
I only wanted to do by my duty
Never prepared for the horrors I’d see
Not enough rum here to forget their faces
Not enough whiskey to drown out their pleas
When we came on deck that cold autumn morning
seventeen hammocks were laid in a row
last rights were read and we started them over
when one of the hammocks started to groan
We cut it open to find a survivor
a child barely conscious with blood o’er his eye
tucked ‘tween the legs of one of the sailors
to be thrown over to secretly die
I only wanted to do by my duty
Never prepared for the horrors I’d see
Not enough rum here to forget their faces
Not enough whiskey to drown out their pleas
In all of the hammocks we found other children
we ran below to the wardroom and found
most of the women tied up in the corner
while others to tables and benches were bound
trembling and crying and bleeding they were
from the terrible things that had happened that night
we untied them, told them to stay and be quiet
and vowed to each other to set this thing right
I only wanted to do by my duty
Never prepared for the horrors I’d see
Not enough rum here to forget their faces
Not enough whiskey to drown out their pleas
We killed all the officers and in short order
swore all the crew to secrecy (to secrecy)
Knowing if ever we were sent for trial
We would all dance on the gallows tree (the gallows tree)
Never again will I follow such orders
of men bent on murder and cruelty (and cruelly)
always a sailor I am not a traitor
‘twas not mutiny but decency
I only wanted to do by my duty
Never prepared for the horrors I’d see
Not enough rum here to forget their faces
Not enough whiskey to drown out their pleas
I only wanted to do by my duty
Never prepared for the horrors I’d see
Not enough rum here to forget their faces
Not enough whiskey to drown out their pleas
Mulcahey’s Pub
I once knew a man from Dublin town
whose footsteps never faltered
no matter what he’d had to drink
he seemed to stay the same
he owns a pub in London
where the whiskey’s never watered
a man who’s good and a man who’s fair
Mulcahey is is name
Oh romp and stomp and roundabout
and dance around the fire
grab a partner and a glass
and dance until its out
romp and stomp and roundabout
and dance around the fire
as long as we’ve got drinks and friends
we’re never coming out
He had two boys named Mike and Tim
and a lovely teenage daughter
the boys they liked to scrap and fight
the fiddle she did play
the Mulcahey boys are known quite well
as champion bar room brawlers
while the lovely young Katherine girl
grew up and moved away
And romp and stomp and roundabout
and dance around the fire
Grab a partner and a glass
and dance until its out
Romp and stomp and roundabout
and dance around the fire
as long as we’ve got drinks and friends
we’re never coming out!
Dark Lady
A fierce one-eyed man named Baron LaBonne
A meaner pirate had never been known
And he sailed on the Dark Lady.
A ship strong and sound with a perilous crew
And high on the mast the skull and bones flew
Fleet and swift was the Dark Lady
And every night the Baron would drink a toast
and say, “Here’s to your lovely lady host!
My one true love…”
“Hear, hear!” the crew replied
And the Dark Lady sighed.
A rich Spanish galleon was spotted one night
The Dark Lady’s crew prepared for the fight
Clash of swords…but no Spaniard survived it.
Except for the girl with black eyes so bold
Found in the hull with the jewels and the gold
LaBonne laughed, and he took her for ransom.
And every night the Baron would drink a toast
and say, “Here’s to your lovely lady host!
My one true love…”
“Hear, hear!” the crew replied
And the Dark Lady sighed.
The girl Carlotta was a beauty quite rare
With each passing night LaBonne couldn’t bear
His empty bed. So he brought her to it.
Night after night LaBonne’s heart filled with fire
his love for her grew he felt more than desire
on that day, he proclaimed that they would marry.
And on that night, he sang with jubilee
And said, “Here’s to my lovely bride to be!
My one true love…”
“Hear, hear!” the crew replied
And the Dark Lady cried.
Late the next night a storm brewed out at sea
The Dark Lady saw her one chance to be free
Of the rival beauty of Carlotta
The ship steered herself to the heart of the gale
Where a wave swept the maiden out over the whale
Sweet revenge, on an unfaithful lover.
And on that night, the Lady drank a toast
And said, “Here’s to your lovely lady host!
Your one true love…”
No voices replied
And the Dark Lady smiled.
And now every night when a storm fills the sky
some say that a ship still sails in its eye
Fleet and swift, is the Dark Lady
A ship strong and sound with a perilous crew
And high on the mast the skull and bones flew
but the captain, that poor old bastard just stares out to sea.
And every night the Baron must drink a toast
and say, “Here’s to your lovely lady host!
My one true love…”
“Hear, hear,” the ghost crew replies
And the Dark Lady smiles.
Sailorman’s Way
As I pace the quarters of my first command
my rank of post captain on the war sloop Slogan
I think of my father what little I knew
but like him before me, a sailorman true
I joined the Calypso at the age of ten
the youngest midshippman in Hammond’s command
for the promise of action to the Indies we sailed
for disease and rebellion and hurricane gales
That day on the gun deck I met me first crew
me own Da among them though ne’er of us knew
for my name is Slinger and his was McCann
and he was a bold gunner and a proud sailorman
He taught me the ropes from the deck to the tops
to wash in the wardroom but hang o’er the slops
and though it was Nedly who taught me to play
me own Da he taught me the sailorman’s way
He’d wax on the watches of exotic ports
likewise stories of Erin and me own County Cork
sang of an apprentice with blue eyes of glass
and I knew I had found me poor father at last
And I vowed to tell him upon the next morn
But the frogs snapped our cable, damn near ran us ashore
And of the French frigates, one sank and one ran
But among the dead crewman the gunner McCann
So all ye young sailors and all ye old hands
pay heed to my story of the proud sailorman
and always remember as I do today
Those bold men what taught you the sailorman’s way
Ned the Bard
He’s a man of many faces and a million songs to boast
A hero to us minstrels but the women love him most
He’s given us a hope of living free and playing hard
Let’s raise a glass to the shanty man who we call Ned the Bard!
Now I’ve known Ned since I was young he taught me how to strive
for something like perfection if only to survive
I’ve heard most of his stories it’s a wonder he’s alive
and you’d never know by looking but he’s only thirty five!
He’s a man of many faces and a million songs to boast
A hero to us minstrels but the women love him most
He’s given us a hope of living free and playing hard
Let’s raise a glass to the shanty man who we call Ned the Bard!
He’s a man who’s clean in word and deed of ever pure intentions
always shy and modest ’bout his prize-worthy inventions
I know his clever verses are beyond your comprehension
and if you believe that pack of lies you ain’t been paying attention!
He’s a man of many faces and a million songs to boast
A hero to us minstrels but the women love him most
He’s given us a hope of living free and playing hard
Let’s raise a glass to the shanty man who we call Ned the Bard!
He’s a man of many faces and a million songs to boast
A hero to us minstrels but the women love him most
He’s given us a hope of living free and playing hard
Let’s have three cheers for the shanty man who we call Ned the Bard!
Parting Glass / Nova Scotia
Traditional
Of all the money e’er I had,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm I’ve ever done,
Alas, it was to none but me.
And all I’ve done for want of wit
To mem’ry now I can’t recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all.
If I had money enough to spend,
And leisure time to sit awhile,
There is a fair maid in this town,
That sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips,
My own she has my heart enthralled,
So fill to me the parting glass,
Good night and joy be with you all.
Oh, all the comrades e’er I had,
They’re sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e’er I had,
They’d wish me one more day to stay,
But should it fall unto my lot,
That I should rise and you should not,
I’ll gently rise and softly call,
Good night and joy be with you all.
Farewell to Nova Scotia , your sea bound coast
let your mountains dark and dreary be…
For when I’m far away on the briny ocean tossed
will you ever heave a sigh or a wish for me…
