Port Admiral

'Twas at the landing-place that's just below Mount Wyse,
Poll lean'd against the sentry's box, a tear in both her eyes;
Her apron twisted round her arms, all for to keep them warm,
Being a windy Christmas-day, and also a snow-storm.

And Bet and Sue
Both stood there too,
A shivering by her side,
They both were dumb,
And both look'd glum,
As they watch'd the ebbing tide.
Poll put her arms a-kimbo,
At the admiral's house look'd she,
To thoughts before in limbo,
She now a vent gave free.
You have sent the ship in a gale to work,
On a lee shore to be jamm'd,
I'll give you a piece of my mind, old Turk,
Port Admiral, you be damned.

Chorus.—We'll give you a piece of our mind, old Turk,
Port Admiral, you be damned.

Who ever heard in the sarvice of a frigate made to sail
On Christmas-day, it blowing hard, with sleet, and snow, and hail?
I wish I had the fishing of your back that is so bent,
I'd use the galley poker hot unto your heart's content.

Here Bet and Sue
Are with me too,
A shivering by my side,
They both are dumb,
And both look glum,
And watch the ebbing tide.
Poll put her arms a-kimbo,
At the admiral's house look'd she,
To thoughts that were in limbo,
She now a vent gave free.
You've got a roaring fire I'll bet,
In it your toes are jamm'd:
Let's give him a piece of our mind, my Bet,
Port Admiral, you be damned.

Chorus.—Let's give him a piece of our mind, my Bet,
Port Admiral, you be damned.

I had the flour and plums all pick'd, and suet all chopp'd fine,
To mix into a pudding rich for all the mess to dine;
I pawn'd my ear-rings for the beef, it weigh'd at least a stone,
Now my fancy man is sent to sea, and I am left alone.
Here's Bet and Sue
Who stand here too,
A shivering by my side;
They both are dumb,
They both look glum,
And watch the ebbing tide.
Poll put her arms a-kimbo,
At the admiral's house look'd she,
To thoughts that were in limbo,
She now a vent gave free.
You've got a turkey, I'll be bound,
With which you will be cramm'd;
I'll give you a bit of my mind, old hound,
Port Admiral, you be damned.

Chorus.—I'll give you a bit of my mind, old hound,
Port Admiral, you be damned.

I'm sure that in this weather they cannot cook their meat,
To eat it raw on Christmas-day will be a pleasant treat;
But let us all go home, girls; it's no use waiting here,
We'll hope that Christmas-day to come they will have better cheer.
So, Bet and Sue,
Don't stand here too,
A shivering by my side;
Don't keep so dumb,
Don't look so glum,
Nor watch the ebbing tide.
Poll put her arms a-kimbo,
At the admiral's house look'd she,
To thoughts that were in limbo,
She now a vent gave free.
So while they cut their raw salt junks,
With dainties you'll be cramm'd;
Here's once for all my mind, old hunks,
Port Admiral, you be damned.

Chorus.—So once for all our mind, old hunks,
Port Admiral, you be damned.


From Snarley-yow, or The Dog Fiend, Frederick Marryat, 1837. Sung "to a slow air".