Lyr. Add: Big Five Gallon Jar

^^ 1
The first time I came to Liverpool*,
I got upon a spree;
'Twas up to old Jack Jenning's,
Such gallant sights to see.
There were drunkards in every corner
And bummers at the bar;
And old Cal'line was whacking it out (Caroline)
Of a big five gallon jar.

Chorus-
In the old Virginia Lowlands, Lowlands, low;
In the old Virginia Lowlands, Lowlands, low.

2
And when the jar is empty,
And the whisky it is dry,
Old Cal'line will renew it again
With the snapping of her eye.
With a little alum water
And some old **Stockholm tar,
Old Cal'line will renew it again,
That big five gallon jar.
3
Old Jackie said to old Cal'line;
I'll tell you what we'll do;
The Sophia is at McClearn's wharf,
And I guess she wants a crew.
We'll go down to Front and Water Street,
Pick up some drunken tar,
And we'll shanghai him away, out of Liverpool Bay*
With a big five gallon jar.

* Liverpool and Liverpool Bay, Nova Scotia.
**Stockholm tar was a high-grade pine tar, shipped by a Swedish company which held a monopoly.
Lyrics only.
Edith Fowke, ed., 1981, "Sea Songs and Ballads from Nineteenth Century Nova Scotia: The William H. Smith and Fenwick Hatt Manuscripts," p. 16-17.

Sophia may refer to a 225 ton ship built at Liverpool, N. S., 1869.
Doerflinger in his book "Shantymen and Shantyboys" said Jack Jennings ran a grog shop in Liverpool, N. S.; his wife's name was Caroline.
William Smith said he heard it from old sailors. There may have been more verses. It was said that the Jennings House was used as a hideout by sailors deserting their ship.