013 - The Limejuice Ship (Short Horus)

This song is forebitter really but was often used at pumps and sometimes at the capstan.
This version is sung to a similar tune for verses as the "long chorus" version, but with five verses, the fifth one being the long chorus. And the chorus however is shorter.

"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 57, 58).
I will sing this song as a forebitter.


The Limejuice Ship

Now, if ye want a merchant ship to sail the sea at large
Ya'll not have any trouble if ye have a good discharge,
Signed by the Board o' Trade an' ev'rything exact,
For there's nothin' done on a Limejuice ship contrary to the Act.

   Shout, boys, shout! For I tell you it's a fact
   There's nothin' done on a Limejuice ship contrary to the Act.

Now when ye join a merchant ship ye'll hear yer Articles read.
They'll tell ye of yer beef an'pork, yer butter an' yer bread,
Yer sugar, tea an' coffee, boys, yer peas an' beans exact,
Yer limejuice an' vinegar, boys, according to the Act.

No watch an' watch the first day out, according to the Act.
Ten days out we all lay aft to get our limejuice whack.
Fetch out her handy billy, boys, and clap it on the tack,
For we gonna set the mains'l, oh, according to the Act.

Its up the deck, me bully boys, with many a curse we go,
Awaiting to hear eight bells struck that we might go below.
Eight bells is struck, the watch is called, the log is hove exact;
Relieve the wheel an' go below, according to the Act.

So haul, boys, yer weather main brace an' ease a-way yer lee
Hoist jibs an' tops'ls lads an' let the ship go free,
Hurrah, boys, hurrah! We'll sing this Jubilee,
Damn an bugger the Navy, boys, A merchant ship for me!