BEN THE BOATSWAIN
Charles Dibdin Jun.

Ben Backstay was our boatswain, a very merry boy,
For no one half so merrily could pipe all hands a-hoy;
And when it chanc'd his summons we didn't well attend,
No lad than he more merrily could handle a rope's end.

With a chip, chow, fol de rol, &c.

While sailing once, our captain, who was a jolly dog,
One day sarv'd out to ev'ry mess a double share of grog;
Ben Backstay he got tipsy, all to his heart's content,
And, being half-seas over, why overboard he went.
With a chip, &c.

A shark was on the starboard- sharks don't for manners stand,
But grapple all that they come near, like lawyer sharks on land;-
We threw out Ben some tackling, of saving him in hopes,
But the shark had bit his head off, so he could not see the ropes.
With a chip, &c.

Without a head his ghost appear'd, all on the briny lake;
He pip'd all hands ahoy, and cried, "Lads, warning by me take!
By drinking grog I lost my life; so, lest my fate you meet,
Why, never mix your liquor, lads, but always drink it neat!"
With a chip &c.

T. Dibdin, Collector, "Songs of Charles Dibdin," 1875, pp. 265-266, Admiralty Edition, George Bell and Sons, London.

Also published as "Ben Backstay," pp. 46-47, XXXII, Christopher Stone, 1906, "Sea Songs and Ballads," Oxford.
Chorus rendered more fully as-

Singing Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido. (bis.)

MORE Ben Backstay to come!