Music Of The Waters - online book

Sailors' Chanties, Songs Of The Sea, Boatmen's, Fishermen's,
Rowing Songs, & Water Legends with lyrics & sheet music

Share page

Visit Us On FB

	28                Music of the Waters.
	" At Catherine's Dock I bade adieu To Poll and Bet, and lovely Sue ; The anchor's weighed, the sails unfurled, We're bound to plough the watery world ; Don't you see we're outward bound. But when we come back to Catherine's Docks, The pretty girls they come in flocks ; And Bet to Poll and Sue will say— 1 Oh, here comes Jack, with his three years' pay ;' Don't you see we're homeward bound ? Then we all set off to the * Dog and Bell,' Where the best of liquor they always sell; In comes old Archy, with a smile, Saying ' Drink, my lads, it's worth your while ;' Don't you see we're homeward bound ?" The chanty known by the name of " Whisky for my Johnny," or "Whisky Johnny," has many different verses, all more or less bearing upon the same subject, and none betraying much delicacy or refinement of expression. It has been sent to me from several different quarters where I have applied for chanties, so I conclude from this fact, that it must be fairly well known amongst the sailors, and may be even a great favourite. As I have before re­marked, the sailors' songs are truly characteristic of the men they belong to, and so long as they adapt themselves to the purpose for which they are intended, and help to lighten the labour and regulate the work at sea, we must be content to take them as they are, and not look for drawing-room rose-water sentiment in the ideas that originate and find favour amongst the hardy toilers of the briny ocean. Solo.                                _______                     _               Chorus.
	B
	----------------------»- Oh, whis - ky is the life