Barry, I offer this as serial amusement; I'll post the other verses from time to time. Join us soon!

A SAILOR'S YARN
(From A Nonesense Anthology By J. J Roche, Circa 1890 Adapted by Charlie Ipcar, 1993 Tune: after Whup Jamboree/Johnie Cock)

(Spoken) This is the tale 'twas told to me,
By a battered and shattered son of the sea:
To me and my messmate, Silas Green,
When I was a guileless young marine.

'Twas on the good ship Fly-ing Fish
All in the Chi-na Seas;
With the wind a-lee, and the cap-stan free,
We set sail for Ca-diz,
We set sail for Ca-diz.

Said Captain Poggie on the deck
To the Mate on the mizzen hatch,
"How heads our gallant ship tonight?
Shall we wind the larboard watch?"...

The mate drew forth his compass rose
And tapped it on the rail,
"Why, she heads to the E. S. W. by N.
In the teeth of a raging gale."...

Sorry, got to go out and shovel some more slush!