I think the verses are a P&O version of the M.V. Hardship song. As with most M.N. songs there's no definative version. Besides the version I know, there's also a version about Harrisons of Liverpool. As I was a'walking down by K.G.V. I saw an old tramp ship tied up alongside The M.V. Hardship that were her name She was bound out to Kiwi & back home again CH Pound away, pound away, from London to Kiwi's a hell of a way. Sailded down the channel on a cold frosry day Then rounded Ushant & south 'cross the Bay The 2nd Stewards 'fruit' & the cook he is too They bugger each other & poison the crew There's nothing for dinner, there's nothing for tea But that fat cook he keeps winking at me Him & the steward are a bloody disgrace Just see the look on the galley boys face The 2nd's a drunkard, we've a bastard as Mate The Bos'un does nothing but dream about work As for the Old Man well we cannot say 'Cause no bugger's seen him since sailing day When we got to Kiwi we all went ashore Off to Ma Gleeson's to get us a whore But when we got there the pickings were poor 'Cause the P.S.N.C. lads had got there before Now the voyage has ended in West India Dock To Charlie Brown's with our pay off we'll flock Soon we may sign with Ropners or Ben But the M.V. Hardship won't see us again.
I got this version [I think ] when aboard the M.V. King James in 1972. I have about a dozen other M.N. songs, if anyone is interested
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