The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126659   Message #3016037
Posted By: GUEST,John from "Elsie`s Band"
26-Oct-10 - 02:03 PM
Thread Name: 'New' Sea Songs & Shanties & Nautical Songs
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GREENWICH PENSIONER
This is certainly not new. It was published in London in by Robert Sayer in March 1791. I have put it to music and it is now part of our repertoire.

THE GREENWICH PENSIONER.

'Twas in the good ship Rover
I sail'd the world around.
And for three years and over,
I ne'er touch'd British ground;
At length in England landed,
I left the roaring main,
Found all relations stranded,
And went to sea again.

That time, bound straight to Portugal,
Right fore and aft we bore;
But, when we'd made Cape Ortugal,
A gale blew off the shore:
She lay, so did it shock her,
A log upon the main,
Till, sav'd from Davy's locker,
We stood to sea again.

Next in a frigate sailing,
Upon a squally night,
Thunder and lightning hailing
The horrors of the fight;
My precious limb was lopped off,
I, when they'd eas'd my pain,
Thank'd God I was not popped off,
And went to sea again.

Yet still am I enabled
To bring up in life's rear,
Although I am disabled
And lie in Greenwich tier;*
The king, God bless his royalty,
Who saved me from the main,
I'll praise with love and loyalty,
But ne'er to sea again.

*(Greenwich Tier refers to the Sailors Hospital there.)