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07 Aug 23 - 03:01 PM (#4178660) Subject: Lyr Add: Auckland to the Bluff From: GUEST,Rick Pollay Auckland to the Bluff Rudy Sunde (New Zealand) 1981 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVzcMVcayWI I left the city when just a lad Times were hard. No work to be had I went to sea on the Flora Belle Little did I know 'twas a ship from hell The ship was old and leakin’ at the seams A dirty old tub, somewhat broad in the beam Its sails were torn Some planks were rotten It lay at the wharf a-gent-ly rockin’ I've sailed from Auckland to the Bluff A thousand miles and that's enough A thousand miles on the heaving sea Glory Hallelujah - that's enough for me We set sail on the evening tide It was early on a Saturday night All went well till the Tiri light And then, by God, I got a fright The ship was hit by a big beam sea Christ, I thought, it was over for me She rolled and she lollopped like a big tin drum Hell! I swore my time had come CHORUS "Shorten sails" the skipper cried "Shorten sails or you buggers will all die Get aloft, get aloft, right up the mast Get aloft, get aloft, and get up there fast" Never in my life had I been so scared Never in my life had I wished I was dead But I climbed up the mast and I shortened sail And I climbed down again and was sick o'er the rail CHORUS "Man the pumps!" the skipper roared "Man the pumps or you'll see the ocean floor!" So I pumped all night though me hands were raw And I pumped and I pumped till the coming of the dawn How we survived that night I don't know The wind it did roar and the wind it did blow But the sun came up and the sea went down The wind it did ease and we headed South I've sailed from Auckland to the Bluff A thousand miles and that's enough A thousand miles on the heaving sea Glory Hallelu' that's enough for me For breakfast we had mouldy bread Lunch was the very same fare Supper was a stinking stew Cookie couldn't eat his own damn brew The skipper was an old man, old and mean Tough as nails and just as lean A voice like a foghorn in the gloom When he cursed it was the voice of doom CHORUS The work was hard and the pay was lean The food was rotten and our quarters none too clean A journey south was always rough So I jumped the ship when we pulled into Bluff So here in Bluff I've settled down Never again will I leave this town Never again will I go to sea Never again will it see me! CHORUS (x2) Bluff is New Zealand's southernmost town, known today for an annual Oyster Festival. |