Here's a good one that might get lost where it was posted.

Thread #11090   Message #2258329
Posted By: banjoman
10-Feb-08 - 08:02 AM
Thread Name: Narrowboat songs
Subject: Lyr Add: MARY ANN MCHUGH (Percy French)

as requested:

MARY ANN MCHUGH
(Percy French)

Well, come all ye lads who plough the sea and likewise see the plough.
The cruise of a canal boat I'll be singing to ye now.
It was the Mary Ann McHugh that ploughed the wintry surf
As we bore away from George's Quay with a terrible load of turf.

Well, the captain's name was Duff and his manners they were rough,
But every cape and headland on that treacherous coast he knew,
And he issued this command: "Keep her well in sight of land
Till we make the port of Dublin in the Mary Ann McHugh."

Now this vessel was of one horsepower propelled by a blackthorn stick.
With a bag o' corn and the wind astern, the horse went a terrible lick.
We came around by Hillardown and then Kilkirk we passed,
And when we'd seen Johnny Quinn's shibeen we yelled out "Land at last!"

But the captain James E Duff said, "Luff, ye lubbers, luff.
Now don't put in to Johnny Quinn's whatever else ye do,
'Cos last time we passed his door, we forgot to pay the score
And he has the p-o-li-ce watchin' for the Mary Ann McHugh."

Then up spoke a sailor bold who had sailed on the Irish Sea.
He said, "Put in to Johnny Quinn's or the crew will mutiny
For to go to sea with a boy and me is a cruel thing I think
When it's water, water everywhere and divil a drop to drink."

Then the captain James E Duff said, "Enough, me lads, enough!
No man before the mast will ever teach me what to do;
So put on all sail at once for it is our only chance
To keep from debt and danger on the Mary Ann McHugh."

So with anxious hearts this vessel starts all on her watery course.
The wind it lashed the rigging and the pilot lashed the horse;
But all in vain beneath the strain the rope began to part,
And we ran aground on a lump of coal that wasn't marked on the chart.

And the captain James E Duff well he hit me such a cuff!
He said, "go heave the lead" while the flag at half mast flew,
But meself I'd had enough of that tyrant James E Duff,
So I heaved the lead at his head and fled from the Mary Ann McHugh.


I got this originally from an LP called "A Pinch of Salt" which featured several artists including Cyril Tawney but I can't recall who sang this one. Still have the LP somewhere so may be able to dig it out. The song was listed on the sleeve as a version of the Good Ship Calibar. I still sing this occasionally and it usually raises a smile. Probably the only Irish canal boat song (unless someone knows different).

Best of luck
Pete