The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #27046   Message #329639
Posted By: Garry Gillard
29-Oct-00 - 04:37 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: On Board of a Man-of-War
Subject: Lyr Add: MAN OF WAR (from Mike Waterson)
Here is Mike Waterson's "Man of war":

As I rode up of a London street
A bold press gang I chanced to meet
Why they asked me I'd join the fleet
On board of a man of war, boys

Why pray brother sailors and tell me true
What kind of usage they give you
That I may know before I go
On board of a man of war, boys

But when I got there to my surprise
All that they told me was shocking lies
And it's there was a row a bloody good row
On board of a man of war, boys

Oh the first thing they done why they took me in hand
They've lashed me with a tarry strand
Why they've whipped me till I couldn't stand
On board of a man of war, boys

They hung me up by my two thumbs
And they've whipped me till the blood did run
And it's that was the usage they gave me
On board of a man of war, boys

I was married and me wife's name was Grace
Twas her that I blame for this shocking affray
Because it was from her I run away
On board of a man of war, boys

But when I set me foot on shore
And I see the girls we all adore
Why I'll never go to sea anymore
On board of a man of war, boys

The song is from this album/CD.

Garry