Here's a real refresher, based on an old drinking song collected around Stonington, Maine, in the 1960's!

MERCHANT'S ISLAND

(Words by Charlie Ipcar © 1999
Tune: She's but a Lassie yet
Key: F(5/C))

G--C-G--------D-------G
Oh, the wind blew up 'bout nor'nor'east,
---------C-G--D7
Blew right up on Monty's beach;
---G------D7---------G-------D7
The men got drunk and the women too –
--------------------------G
'Round the pub the rum jug flew!


Chorus:

G
We'll shove around the grog, me boys,
------------------------------D7
Raise our mugs and make some noise;
------G------------------------C
We'll shove around the grog, me boys –
D7-----------------G
Down on Merchant's Island!


One thing that we know is true,
There's nothing like ol' Stan's home brew,
For on our toots we're pissed as newts –
Down on Merchant's Island...

Now, Kendall's not one to complain,
When he's in the fog or rain;
He'll sniff the air and if it's fair,
We're bound for Merchant's Island...

When Joanna's drained her final jar,
You'll find her clinging to the bar,
With wheel adrift, sheets to the wind,
She'll need a tow back home ag'in...

No one can drink as much as Greg,
And still be standing on his legs,
With decks awash and a gale to face,
You'll hear him cry, "Splice the main brace!"...

Then, Cindy blew in through the gate,
Drinking twice as fast for she come in late,
She raised that rum jug to her nose
"Tilt 'er up and down she goes!"...

Now, Sammy was a good old man,
But he could not make his jib-boom stand;
So he spliced it straight and true –
Now he's cruisin' good as new...

When we heard the final call,
Ol' Bill wasn't there at all,
He'd slipped his cable, sailed away,
But he'll be back another day...

Now, Cicely was the last come by,
She never drank but she said she'd try;
She drank so much of the ale and stout,
They closed the pub and threw us out...

What a glorious spree!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble