The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #172604 Message #4179761
Posted By: Lighter
23-Aug-23 - 08:33 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Valparaiso / Paddy Lay Back
Subject: RE: Origins: Valparaiso / Paddy Lay Back
William B. Sturtevant, in "The American Neptune" (1941), referring to 1886:
1. 'Twas in London in the cold month of December,
That I found that all my money it was spent.
How I got there I just don't remember,
But I down to the shipping office went.
On that day there was a great demand for sailors,
For India, China, Java, and for France,
So I shipped before the mast on the Oxford,
And we went away to booze all our advance.
Chorus.
Then it's get back, give in the slack,
Bear away your capstan, heave a paul. [sic]
'Bout ship staysails boys be handy,
Then it's raise tacks, sheets and mainsail haul.
2. We all came on board on a Sunday morning,
And everyone was heavy on the booze.
So I sat down on my chest aquietly [sic] thinking,
Whether I'd turn in my bunk and have a snooze,
When I heard a voice loudly calling,
I listened and I heard that voice again.
It was the chief mate at the forecastle door a-howling!
Come lay aft boys and answer to your names.
Chorus: etc.