Done some more tweaking of the tune and lyrics as I've been learning this one. Here's what it looks like now (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords):

Rudyard Kipling, 1880
Adapted for singing by Charlie Ipcar 7/4/12
Tune after Home with the Girls in the Morning

The Ballad of Bolivar-3


Dm----------------C--------------Dm---------------C
Seven men from all the world, on the Docks a-gain,
Dm----------------C-------------------------G---Dm-F--Dm
Rollin' down the Ratcliffe Road, drunk an' rais-in' Cain!
---------------------C--------------Dm-------------C
"Give the girls a-nother round 'fore we sail a-way!"
Dm-----------------C-----------G--Dm--F---Dm
We that took the Bolivar, out a-cross the Bay!
F--------------C----------Dm-C---Dm--F------C-----------Dm/Am
We steamed out from Sun-der-land, loaded down with rail;
F--------------C---------Dm-C---Dm--------G-C-G--Dm-F---Dm
We steamed out from Sun-der-land — in a ris-in' win-t'ry gale!
----------C-----Dm--C-Dm--F--------C-----Dm/Am
Leakin' like a lob-ster-pot, steer-in' like a dray —
F----------C---------Dm-C-Dm-F-G-Dm---F--Dm
When we took the Bol-i-var, out a-cross the Bay!


One by one the Lights came up, winked and let us pass;
Met a blow that laid us low, heard a bulkhead smash!
Just her funnel and her mast lurchin' through the spray —
As we thrashed the Bolivar, out across the Bay!
Skidding 'cross the slimy decks, bilges choked with coal;
Flayed and frozen hand and foot, sick of heart and soul!
How we prayed she'd buck herself into Judgment Day —
How we cursed the Bolivar, knockin' round the Bay!

Achin' for an hour's sleep, dozing off between;
Heard the rotten rivets draw, when she shipped it green!
Watched the compass chase its tail like a cat at play,
As we snaked the Bolivar, south across the Bay!
Once we saw between the squalls, lyin' head to swell —
Some damned Liner's lights go by like a grand hotel!
Mad with work and weariness, wishin' they was we,
Cheered her from the Bolivar, swampin' in the sea!

Then a greybeard cleared us out, how our skipper laughed,
"Boys, the wheel has gone to Hell! — Rig the winches aft!
Yoke the kickin' rudder-head! — Get her under way!"
We pulley-hauled the Bolivar, out across the Bay!
Just a pack o' rotten plates, puttied up with tar,
In we came, an' time enough, 'cross Bilbao Bar!
Overloaded, undermanned, meant to founder, sure;
Give a cheer for the Bolivar, lashed up and secure.

Seven men from all the world, back in town again,
Rollin' down the Ratcliffe Road, drunk and raisin' Cain!
Seven men from Hell and back! – Ain't the owners gay,
'Cause we took the Bolivar, safe across the Bay!
Seven men from all the world, back in town again,
Rollin' down the Ratcliffe Road, drunk and raisin' Cain!
Seven men from Hell and back! – Ain't the owners gay,
'Cause we took the Bolivar, safe across the Bay!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble