Lyr Req: The Floating Parliament [Spithead mutiny]

Subject: Lyric required---Spithead Mutiny Song
From: GUEST,Bubblyrat
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 07:06 PM

I can only remember one verse of this song,which goes something like:

A gracious proclamation came
From the wisest head-piece in the game,
   To say that all our past misdeeds would freely be forgiven;
And oh ! 'Twould have made a dead man laugh,
To see how brisk was the telegraph,
And signals flew about like chaff,
And Jack sang " Hurrah for Spithead !".

Anybody heard / know this song ??

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FLOATING PARLIAMENT
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 07:17 PM

http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/mutiny.htm

You will find it there about 40% of the way down the page.

---

The Floating Parliament.

R Palmer, The Valiant Sailor, Cambridge 1973

1.  I'm just from Portsmouth come to town,
Where such a rumpus ne'er was known.
for the tars were up and their captains down:
'Twas a very pretty piece of fun:
For they vowed that he who danger braves
Should scud in freedom or the waves,
That sailors should no more be slaves,
They'd all sing,

         Fal la la la la ,fal la la la la lay.

2, The captains then all shook with fear,
Quaked such a loud complaint to hear,
For well they knew the facts were clear
And sailors scorn to flinch,
Then from each ship was sent a boat
In spite of the captain's fine lace coat
and a free convention formed afloat,
Where they sang,

3.  To Whitehall then the news was sent
About this naval parliament,
And our five sea lords to council went,
All trembling with dismay.
But oh 'twould have made a dead man laugh
To see how busy was the telegraph
While signals flew about like chaff,
And Jack sang,

4.  Then off went Spencer's noble Lord
And promised on his sacred word
And as he hoped he'd shun the cord
That all should be redressed.
My lord says Jack though so brisk you skip
You know not the stem from the stern of a ship,
So pray take to London another trip
While we sing,

5.  Then a gracious proclamation came
From the wisest head piece in the land
And promised though Jack was to blame,
He'd freely be forgiven.
Damn me says jack, if I care a pin,
To leave good work half done's a sin;
And we'll go through now we're fairly in,
Then we will sing,

6.  Dismayed now the lords changed their course
In vain was trickery or force
And lest the business might grow worse,
They humbly acquiesced.
Then Jack with joy the news received,
Though fearful yet of being deceived,
And though he scarce their words believed,
Yet they sang,

7.  Now Jack no more a tyrant's slave,
Proudly ploughs the briny wave,
And teaches Britains that the brave,
May, if they will, be free.
For heaven will prosper their intent
And soon will come the blessed event
When, like the floating Parliament,
We'll all sing,