The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #59635   Message #2485861
Posted By: GUEST,Pete Walker
05-Nov-08 - 02:59 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Girl With a Blue Dress On
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Little Girl With a Blue Dress On
This halyard shanty comes from "Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugall, singing of A. L. Lloyd, and various forgotten sources over the years. Also called "Shake Her, Johnny, Shake Her" and "Gal With A Blue Dress On"

A gal asleep with a blue dress on,
> Shake 'er Johnny, shake ''er!
She waitin' there for your Uncle Tom,
> Shake 'er and we'll wake 'er.

This gal she did look good to me,
For I have been ten months at sea.

She's a Down East gal wid a Down East style,
For a dollar a time it's all worth while.

Wake up you bitch and let us in,
Wake up you bitch we want some gin.

Roust an' shake her is the cry,
The bloody topmast sheave is dry!

The big wind comes from the Wes'-nor'-west,
This gal ain't gonner get no rest.

What can you do in Tiger Bay,
But give them flash gals all your pay.

Shake 'er, bullies, oh helm's a-lee,
She'll git washed out wid a big green sea.

Her oilskins they are all in pawn,
It's wet an' draughty 'round Cape Horn.

So roust 'er up from down below,
An' haul away for Uncle Joe.

This gal she is a high-brown lass,
High-brown lass in a flash blue dress.

So roust 'er up be quick I say,
An' make yer port an' take yer pay.

Soon we'll be down Mobile Bay,
Screwin' cotton for to git our pay.