The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #109942   Message #3462521
Posted By: Sailor Ron
07-Jan-13 - 05:52 AM
Thread Name: PermaThread: Merchant Navy Songs
Subject: RE: PermaThread: Merchant Navy Songs
Here's one of mine, tune by Chris LOck [of Fore & Aft]
Title: Tramps or Shanty for steam

She's a long haul, black hulled British tramp sir
CH. Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal
Owned by Ropners, KIng or Bank Sir--
Or LOndon Greeks. Shovel in the coal.

With five hatches, a woodbine funnel CH.
Her Plimsole line's above her gun'al.
Her ash pit's full. Shovel in the coal.

With a fire tube boiler, a condensing, CH
Triple expansion compound engine
Smash the clinker. Shovel in the coal

She's no greyhound, no Cunarder CH
Firing her is a damn sight harder.
Watch on, watch off. Shovel in the coal.

Carries grain or coal or bricks sir CH
Would even sail the River Styx sir
If the charter's right. Shovel in the coal.

Cheap coal foll of shale and slate sir CH
It wont fire and clogs the grate sir
The strum box's choked. Shovel in the coal.

Flies a smoke blacked old Red Duster CH
She keeps going 'cause we trust her--
Her 'black gang' who shovel in the coal.

notes. Ropners[pronounced Rope ners], King & Bank were 'tramp'outfits.
Watch on watch off, many pre war tramps worked on a 2 rather      than a 3 watch system.
Black gang... firemen & trimmers