Lyr. Add: BLOW THE MAN DOWN
Captain Davis, 1887

1.
Solo
I'll sing you a song, a good song of the sea,
Chorus
To me aye, aye, blow the man down!
Solo
And trust that you'll join in the chorus with me;
Chorus
Give me some time to blow the man down.
2.
Solo
There was an old skipper, I don't know his name,
Chorus
   To my aye, aye, blow the man down;
Solo
Although he once played a remarkable game,
Chorus
   Give me some time to blow the man down.
3.
For his ship lay becalmed in the tropical seas,
   To me aye, etc.
And he whistled all day, but in vain for a breeze*
   Give me some time ...
4.
But a seal heard his whistle and loudly did call**,
   To me aye ...
"Roll up your white canvas, jib, spanker, and all,
   Give me some time ...
5.
I'll bring some good fish to consult, if you please,
   To me aye...
The best way to get you a nice little breeze,"
   Give me some time ...
6.
The first fish to come was a hoary old shark,
   To me aye ...
Saying, "I'll eat you up if you play any lark,"
   Give me some time ...
7.
The next was a whale, aye, the biggest of all,
To me aye ...
He climbed up aloft and he let each sail fall,
Give me some time ...
8.
The mack'rel came next, with his pretty striped back,
   To me aye ...
He hauled aft each sheet and he boarded each tack,
   Give me some time ...
9.
The herring came, saying, "I'm King of the Seas,"
   To me aye ...
"If you want any wind I'll blow you a breeze,"
   Give me some time ...
10.
But the skipper the mackerel ate for his tea,
   To me aye, ...
The herring he salted, the seal harpooned he,
   Give me some time ...
11.
He baited a hook, and he thought it a lark,
   To me aye ...
To catch as he did, that hoary old shark,
   Give me some time ...
12.
Then he killed the old whale, which was no easy task,
   To me aye ...
And soon with sperm oil he had filled up each cask,
   Give me some time ...
13.
Then the breeze it blew gaily, and gaily went he,
   To me aye ...
But what an old rascal that skipper must be,
   Give me some time ...
14.
Blow the man down, Johnny, blow the mab down,
   To me aye ...
If he be white man, or black man or brown.
   Give me some time ...

* During a calm, sailors whistle, believing that a breeze will come in answer.
** Seals are said to be fond of music.

No. 22, p. 42, F. J. Davis and Ferris Tozer, 1887 and reprints, "Sailors' Songs and Chanties," Boosey & Co., Ltd., London.