BEN BACKSTAY

Ben Backstay was a bosun, he was a jolly boy,
And none like he so merrily, could pipe all hands ahoy,
Could pipe all hands ahoy, could pipe all hands ahoy.

While sailing with a captain who was a jolly dog,
Our Ben and all his shipmates got a double share of grog,
A double........

Now Ben he got tipsy all to his heart's content
And leaning o'er the starboard side, right overboard he went
Right....

A shark was on the starboard side, and sharks no man can stand,
For They do gobble up everything, just like the sharks on land,
Just....

We threw to him some tackling to give his life some hope,
But since the shark bit off his head, he could not see the rope,
He....

For recordings see:-
Burl Ives 'Down to the Sea in Ships' Brunswick LAT 8142 (c1956).
Jim Mageean 'Of Ships ... And Men' Greenwich Village GVR203 (1978).
Cyril Tawney 'Little Boy Billee' Neptune NEP006 (1992)

I think Cyril's recording - a cassette - is the one most likely to be available - drop him a line at 521 Meanwood Road, Leeds, England LS6 4AW