Hello,

here is my favorite version, learned from an old friend Skip Henderson.

BEN BACKSTAY

Ben Backstay was our Bosun, and a very merry boy
And none then he so merrily could pipe all hands ahoy
And when it chanced his summons, we didn't well attend
Well none but he so merrily could handle the ropes end

CHORUS:
With a chip chop cherry chop, fol de rol de riddy rop…

While sailing once our captain, who was a jolly dog
One day he gave to every mess a double share of grog
Ben Backstay he got tipsy, all to his heart's content
And being half seas over, why overboard he went

A shark was on the starboard, sharks don't on manners stand
But grapples all they comes athwart, just like those sharks on land
We threw Ben out some tackling, of saving him some hopes
But the shark had bit his head off, so he couldn't see the ropes

His headless ghost appeared that night all on the briny lake
He piped all hands aloft and said, "Lads, warning by me take"
In drinking grog I lost me life, so lest my fate yea meet
Why never mix your liquors lads, but always take it neat


Skip recorded it on his CD, Billy Bones and Other Ditties.

It's a fun song and would be interesting to know what it sounded like performed in the period it was written.

Good Luck,
Gary