BARRETT'S PRIVATEERS
​
Oh, the year was 1778,
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
A letter of marque came from the king,
To the scummiest vessel I'd ever seen,
​
Chorus: God damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
​
Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town,
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
For twenty brave men all fishermen who
would make for him the Antelope's crew
Chorus:
The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight,
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
She'd a list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in scuppers with the staggers and the jags
Chorus:
On the King's birthday we put to sea,
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
We were 91 days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way
Chorus:
On the 96th day we sailed again,
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four pounders we made to fight
Chorus:
The Yankee lay low down with gold,
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
She was broad and fat and loose in the stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
Chorus:
Then at length we stood two cables away,
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
Our cracked four pounders made an awful din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
Chorus:
The Antelope shook and pitched on her side,
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the Maintruck carried off both me legs
Chorus:
So here I lay in my 23rd year,
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
It's been 6 years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
Chorus:
***
B
BLOW THE MAN DOWN
(Packet Rats version)
I’m a Flyin' Fish Sailor
just home from Hong Kong - To me!
Way Hey Blow the man down
Just give me some whiskey
and I’ll sing yez a song
Gimme some time
to blow the man down
CHORUS:
Oh, blow the man down, bullies,
blow the man down!
To me! Way, hey, blow the man down,
Oh, Blow him right over to Liverpool town!
Oh, gimme some time to blow the man down.
Now as I was a rollin' down Paradise Street
A fat Irish bobby I chanced for to meet
---
He sez, you're a Black Baller
by the cut of your hair
And those floppy red seaboots
I see that you wear
CHORUS
Oh mister, oh mister,
you do me great wrong
I’m a Flyin' Fish Sailor
just home from Hong Kong
---
You've sailed in some packet
that flies the Black Ball
And you've robbed some poor Dutchman
of boots, clothes and all
CHORUS
So I spat in his eye
and I stove in his jaw
Young feller, sez he,
you’re breaking the law
---
Well they gave me six months
in old Liverpool Town
For booting' and kickin'
and blowin' him down
CHORUS
So come all you young fellers
that follow the sea
Put your vents on the wind,
boys and listen to me
---
Yes come all you young sailors,
mark well what I say
Steer clear of fat policemen
you’ll find it’ll pay
CHORUS
***
The BONNIE SHIP THE DIAMOND
The Diamond is a ship, me lads, for the Davis Straits she's bound,
And the quay it is all garnish-ed with bonnie lassies round.
Captain Thompson gives the order tae sail the ocean wide,
Where the sun it never sets, my lads, nor darkness dims the sky.
[CHORUS]
So it's cheer up, my lads! Let your hearts never fail,
For the bonnie ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishin for the whale!
​
Along the quay of Peterhead, the lassies stand around,
Their shawls all pulled about them and the salt tears running doon.
Now don’t you weep, my bonnie lass, though you be left behind,
For the rose will bloom on Greenland’s ice
before we change our mind.
[CHORUS]
Here’s health tae the Resolution, likewise the Eliza Swan,
Three cheers tae the Battler of Montrose, and the Diamond, ship of fame.
We wear the trousers o' the white and the jackets o' the blue,
When we get back tae Peterhead, we’ll ha'e sweethearts enoo.
[CHORUS]
It will be bricht both day and night
when the Greenland lads come hame,
Wi' a ship that's fu' o' oil, me lads, and money tae our name.
We'll make the cradles for tae rock and the blankets for tae tear,
And every lass in Peterhead sing "hushabye, my dear!"
[CHORUS to fin.]
***
BUTTER BEANS
An American Civil War tune.
​
1st verse & CHORUS:
Just a bowl of butter beans
Pass the cornbread if you please
I don't want no collard greens
All I want is a bowl of butter beans
---
Just a piece of country ham
Pass the butter and the jam
Pass the biscuits if you please
And some more o' them good ol' butter beans
CHORUS
Red eye gravy is all right
Turnip sandwich a delight
But my children all still scream
For another bowl of butter beans
CHORUS
Some folks think that cornpone's best
Some likes grits more than the rest
But if I was a man of means
I'd just want them good ol' butter beans
CHORUS
When they lay my bones to rest
Place no roses upon my chest
Plant no blooming evergreens
All I want is' a bowl of butter beans
CHORUS
***
BELEMINA (Crisp with calypso beat)
​
Belemina, Belemina, Belemina in de harbor
Belemina, Belemina, Belemina in de harbor
Put the Belemina on the dock
And paint the Belemina black, black, black
Paint the Belemina black, black, black
When she come home she was white.
Oh de Mystry, oh de Mystry, she used to carry whiskey
Oh de Mystry, oh de Mystry, little boat mighty frisky
Put the Mystry on the dock
And paint the Mystry black, black, black
Paint the Mystry black, black, black
When she come home she was white.
Oh de N’agwa, oh de N’agwa, she stuck in Key West harbor
Oh de N’agwa, oh de N’agwa, she carry a funny cargo
Put the N’agwa on the dock
And paint the N’agwa black, black, black
Paint the N’agwa black, black, black
When she come home she was white.
(*1st line quiet)
Belemina, Belemina, Belemina in de harbor
Belemina, Belemina, Belemina in de harbor
Put the Belemina on the dock
And paint the Belemina black, black, black
Paint the Belemina black, black, black
When she come home she was white.
***
BLACK VELVET BAND
​
CHORUS Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band.
In a neat little town they call Belfast
Apprenticed to trade I was bound
And many an hour's sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town.
Till bad misfortune came o'er me
That caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band.
CHORUS
Well, I was out strolling one evening
Not meaning to go very far
When I met with a pretty young damsel
Who was selling her trade in the bar.
A watched she pulled from a customer
And slipped it right into my hand
On the very first day that I met her,
Bad luck to the black velvet band.
CHORUS
Next morning before judge and jury
For a trial I had to appear
And the judge, he said, "You young fellow...
The case against you is quite clear
And seven long years is your sentence
You're going to Van Dieman's Land
Far away from your friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band."
CHORUS
So come all you jolly young fellows
I'd have you take warning by me
Whenever you're out on the liquor, me lads,
Beware of the pretty colleen.
She'll fill you with whiskey and porter
Until you're not able to stand
And the very next thing that you'll know, me lad,
You're landed in Van Dieman's Land
CHORUS
***
BLOW YE WINDS IN THE MORNING
'Tis advertised in Boston, New York, and Buffalo:
Five hundred brave Americans a-whalin' for to go.
​
Chorus:
Singing Blow ye winds in the morning,
Blow ye winds, high-ho!
Clear away your runnin' gear,
And blow, boys, blow!
They take you to New Bedford,
that famous whaling port,
And give you to some land sharks
to board and fit you out.
Chorus:
They tell you of the clipper ships
a-going in and out,
And say you'll take five hundred sperm
before you're six months out.
Chorus:
Its now we're out to sea, my boys,
the winds come on to blow;
One-half the watch is sick on deck,
the other half below.
Chorus:
When our ship is full, my boys,
and we don’t give a damn
We’ll bend on all our stu’nsals
and sail for Yankeeland.
Chorus:
When we get home, our ship made fast,
and we get through our sailing,
A brimming glass around
we’ll pass and damn this blubber whaling!
Chorus
***
BULLY IN THE ALLEY
SL (HEY!) - SO HELP ME BOB, I’M BULLY IN THE ALLEY
CH WAY HEY~ I’M BULLY IN THE ALLEY
SL HEY! - SO HELP ME BOB, I’M BULLY IN THE ALLEY
CH BULLY DOWN IN SHIN-BONE AAA-L
​
CHORUS:
(HEY) SO HELP ME BOB I’M BULLY IN THE ALLEY
WAY HEY ~ I’M BULLY IN THE ALLEY
HELP ME BOB I’M BULLY IN THE ALLEY
BULLY DOWN IN SHIN-BONE AAA-L
​
SH (OH!) SALLY IS THE GAL THAT I LOVED DEARLY~
CH OOH - WAY HEY ~ I’M BULLY IN THE ALLEY
SL NOW! SALLY IS THE GAL THAT I SPLICED NEARLY~
CH BULLY DOWN IN SHIN-BONE AAA-L
CHORUS
SL WELL, I’LL LEAVE SAL AND I’LL BE A SAILOR~
CH HO! - WAY HEY I’M BULLY IN THE ALLEY
SL I’LL LEAVE SAL AND SHIP ABOARD A WHALER
CH BULLY DOWN IN SHIN-BONE AAA-L
CHORUS 2X
***
BYE, BYE, ROSEANNA
CHORUS:
Bye-bye, bye-bye -- bye-bye, bye-bye,
Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
Bye-bye, bye-bye -- bye-bye, bye-bye,
I won't be home tomorrow.
A dollar a day's a fisherman’s pay
Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
It´s easy come, easy go they say
I won't be home tomorrow.
CHORUS
The boats are sailing around the bend,
Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
All loaded down with fishermen
I won't be home tomorrow.
CHORUS
We're sailing North, across the bay
Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
We won't be back for many a day
I won't be home tomorrow.
CHORUS
Oh Roseanne, sweet Roseanne
Bye-bye, my Roseanna.
Were bound away at the break of day
I won't be home tomorrow.
CHORUS
***