The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #41448 Message #598590
Posted By: Joe Offer
27-Nov-01 - 01:54 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Illy Ally-O - East Indiaman (Tom Lewis)
Subject: ADD: The East Indiaman (Tom Lewis)
Hi - I guess I goofed on that one. If we don't have the lyrics, and they're at all related to folk music, please post them when you find them (hint to Sorcha).
Now, I wonder if we can find the traditional version of this song. I guess we could ask Tom Lewis. -Joe Offer-
THE EAST INDIAMAN
Words and Music: Tom Lewis
(Recorded by Tom Lewis on Mixed Cargo.)
Many's the time I've sung this song when the wind's been blowing half-a-gale,
Hoisting up a yard or shaking out a reef or hauling on the sheets of a sail,
I've shipped on board of a man-of-war, in the Merchant Service too,
I've fought for m' King and m' country while I've sailed on the ocean blue.
Illy, ally, illy, ally, oh - cheerily, boys, cheerily,
Bend your backs and give a pull, cheerily I say (I say!),
With a long pull and a strong pull we'll haul away together, boys,
Belay every inch of that, belay, boys, belay.
On a bright May day we sailed away on a big East India ship,
Though it's many, many years ago, m' boys, I'll not forget that trip,
We said "goodbye" to Portsmouth quay, to Susan, Kate and Jane,
And we hadn't been a'sailing but an hour or more when we joined in the old refrain:
Now I'm back from the sea again, gonna' put down m' roots on the shore,
Have a bit of a spell with m' long-haired gel, she's the one I do adore,
But there's no doubt, should a war break-out, and seamen be required again,
I'll join with m' crew, m' duty for to do and we'll join in the old refrain.