This drinking song is based on a fragment, the first verse, recollected from a song party in the 1960's off Stonington, Maine.


MERCHANT'S ISLAND

(New words by Charlie Ipcar © 1999
Tune: "She's but a Lassie yet")

G--C-G--------D-------G
Oh, the wind blew up 'bout nor'nor'east,
---------C-G--D7
Blew right up on Monty's beach;
---G------D7---------G-------D7
The men got drunk and the women too –
--------------------------G
'Round the pub the rum jug flew!


Chorus:

G
We'll shove around the grog, me boys,
------------------------------D7
Raise our mugs and make some noise;
------G------------------------C
We'll shove around the grog, me boys –
D7-----------------G
Down on Merchant's Island!


One thing that we know is true,
There's nothing like ol' Stan's home brew,
For on our toots we're pissed as newts –
Down on Merchant's Island...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble