FIVE POUNDS
(Les Sullivan)

1. Young Jack he stole away one night his fortune for to seek
But a young marine did him espy; Jack’s prospects did look bleak.
A farrier’s wife, she took him in; those boys they searched in vain.
Young Jack weren’t found so no five pounds; let’s drink Jack’s health again.

CHORUS: Pounds, five pounds, me boys, five pounds it will be yours
For bringing back poor sailors who should not be ashore.

2. Young George crept out one cold grey night to swim ashore or drown,
But sadly he was seen, me boys, by agents of the Crown.
Young George’s fate made strong men weep; he was whipped the whole fleet round,
So cursed be all the King’s damned men who earn their damned five pounds. CHORUS

3. They wait there still on Portsdown Hill with pistol on their knee,
A-watching o’er the roads, me boy, for ships just come from sea.
Their spies they wait round the dockyard gate from here to Plymouth Sound.
God strike them dead for men that bled and died for those five pounds. CHORUS

4. Then there was me; two years I’d been away from England’s strand.
I had to get ashore, me boys; set feet upon this land.
I had not gone but five miles hence when pressmen ambushed me,
But no five pounds was shared around when I showed my ticket of leave. CHORUS