Charley R,

Go for it. There is more gold in Hiram Cody's poetry book.

Here's my adaptation of "Old Ship Riggers":

Poem by Hiram A. Cody, © 1925
Adapted for singing by Charles Ipcar, © 2012
Tune: after Obray Ramsey's "French Broad River"
Key: G(7/C)
Old Ship Riggers-2


G-----C--G----------C--G
Now, we did a heap o' riggin'
-----C-----G-----------C-----G
In those rough an’ rowdy days,
-------------D----------------------D7
When the wooden ships were buildin'
------------D------C-------G
On their slanted timber ways;
------- C--G----------C---G
Ships of every sort an' fashion,
-----C---G-----------C--G
Big an' little, short an' tall,
--------D-------------------G
Were launched into the harbor,
-------------------D--G---C--G
An' we rigged 'em one an' all.


Then our riggin' was for sailors,
Rough an' hardy Bluenose dogs,
With their hands as tough as leather,
An' their boots with heavy clogs.
They might rant an' they might roar,
But they'd learned their business right,
An' they trusted to our riggin'
When the seas were rollin' white.

Just like fittin' out a maiden
For her happy weddin' day,
When we rigged a noble vessel
Lying anchored in the bay;
All her gear was new an' shinin’,
Every ribbon taut an' trim,
An' she stood there when we finished,
Tall an' handsome, straight an' slim.


When at last she slipped her moorin',
An' she ghosted down the stream,
With her riggin' all aglowin',
An' her canvas all agleam;
How we cheered her to the heavens,
How our hearts all filled with pride,
As the ocean rose to meet her,
As a groom would greet his bride.

Some came back just as they left us,
Trim an' spotless, sailing free;
Others crept back to the harbor,
Bruised an' broken by the sea;
Those we nursed like tender mothers,
Mendin' canvas, rope an' spar;
Till once more we had 'em shinin'
Like some twinklin' mornin' star.

Now our riggin' days are over,
An' the past fades like a dream,
As we view the mighty changes
Brought about by wizard steam;
We are needed here no longer,
For there's little we can do—
May there still be work for riggers
In that Port beyond the blue.