The Dying Harlot

Though it bears little resemblance to its weepy forebearer, the ballad of the sailor dying at sea known variously as "(Wrap Me up in My) Tarpaulin Jacket," in fact, "The Dying Harlot" has a long history.

The probably 19th Century "Tarpaulin Jacket" was modified during the first world war to become a lament for a dying aviator. Two generations later, Australian, New Zealand, British and American fighter pilots had turned the pilot into a prostitute, and the lament had become screed like "Sam Hall."

These three versions are given as Number 136 in Paul Woodford's anthology of "Hash Hymns II," collected around the Pacific Basin, and printed in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1994, for use by hashers.

All three are sung to the tune of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.Squot;

[ A ]


Oh, a strapping young harlot lay dying
A pisspot supporting her head;
And all the young bludgers were 'round her;
As she leaned on her left tit and said;

"I've been stuffed by the Dutchies and Negroes^
I've been stuffed by the Spaniards so tall;
I've been stuffed by the English and Irish;
In fact; I've been fucked by them all.

"So wrap me in foreskins and FrenchieS;
And bury me deep down below;
Where all those young bludgers can't catch me;
The place where all good harlots go."

[ B ]

A dirty old harlot lay dying;
A pisspot supporting her head;
All around her the bludgers were crying;
As she leant on her left tit and said;

"I've been fucked by the French and the English;
The Germans; the Japs; and the Jews;
And now I've come back to Australia;
To be buggered by bastards like you;

"So haul back your filthy old foreskins;
And give me the pride of your nuts."
So they hauled back their filthy old foreskins;
And played "Home Sweet Home" on her guts.

[C]

The dirty old harlot lay dying;
A cunt-rag supported her head;
The blowflies around her were buzzing;
As she turned on her left tit and said;

"I've been fucked by the army and navy;
By a bull-fighting toreador;
By Abos and dingoes and dagoS;
But never by blowflies before."

From the Ed Cray collection: https://archive.org/details/ed-cray-collection-aka-erotic-muses-iii/page/n487/mode/2up?q=%22dying+harlot%22&view=theater