Here's a relatively new shanty from my shanty factory, adapted from a short poem from nautical writer Lincoln Colcord, brother to sea music editor and collector Joanna Colcord. There was no tune but one flew into my head from somewhere and I'm responsible for adding the filler verses in between the largely original first and last verses:

WINDLASS CHANTY
(After a poem by Lincoln Colcord (1883-1947) From Sea Stories from Searsport to Singapore Words adapted & added to by Charlie Ipcar – © 1999 Tune: Charlie Ipcar © 1999)

Am
Soon she'll bite the swells, the breeze is singin',
--------F
We'll be sinkin' Sandy Hook in the morn,
Em-Am
So, walk 'er up, me lads, the pawls are ringin',
F ------------------------------Am
Soon we'll be rounding ol' Cape Horn.


Them Northeast Trades will keep our halyards singin',
We'll be sinkin' Sandy Hook in the morn,
We'll be rolling down to Rio, stuns'ls wingin',
Soon we'll be rounding ol' Cape Horn.*

Them gals in Callao will all be waitin',
We'll be sinkin' Sandy Hook in the morn,
When we're 'longside there'll be no hesitatin',
Soon we'll be rounding ol' Cape Horn.*

"The mudhook's up an' down!" the bosun's callin',
We'll be sinkin' Sandy Hook in the morn,
"So, break 'er out an' cat 'er!" now he's bawlin',
Soon we'll be rounding ol' Cape Horn.*

"Goodbye, me love, a year we'll be a-sailin',"
We'll be sinkin' Sandy Hook in the morn,
"So, sheet yer tops'ls home, the dawn is palin',"
Soon we'll be rounding ol' Cape Horn. (REPEAT)

F------------------------------Am
Soon we'll be rounding ol' Cape Horn!

* New verses

"Sandy Hook" in New Jersey is a familar landmark for those entering or leaving New York harbor, and, of course, is not literally "sinking." The world is round, so they claim!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, not to be confused with Charlie Ipcar