by Haruo » Mon Aug 15, 2016 1:35 am
Mrs. H. just located the lyrics for me:
A IS THE ANCHOR THAT HOLDS A BOLD SHIP,
B IS THE BOWSPRIT THAT OFTEN DOES DIP,
C IS THE CAPSTAN 'ROUND WHICH WE MUST WIND AND
D ARE THE DAVITS ON WHICH THE JOLLY BOAT HANGS,
(Refrain, after each quatrain:)
SO HI DERRY, HEY DERRY, HO DERRY DOWN,
GIVE SAILORS THEIR GROG & THERE'S NOTHING GOES WRONG,
SO MERRY, SO MERRY, SO MERRY ARE WE,
NO MORTAL ON EARTH LIKE A SAILOR AT SEA.
E IS THE ENSIGN, THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE,
F IS THE FO'C'SLE THAT HOLDS THE SHIP'S CREW,
G IS THE GANGWAY, ON WHICH THE MATE TAKES HIS STAND, AND
H IS THE HAUSER THAT SELDOM DOES STRAND.
I IS THE IRONS WHERE THE STUNS'L BOOM SITS,
J IS THE JIB BOOM THAT OFTEN DOES DIP,
K ARE THE KEELSUNS, OF WHICH YOU'VE BEEN TOLD AND
L ARE THE LANYARDS THAT ALWAYS WILL HOLD.
M IS THE MAINMAST SO STOUT AND SO STRONG,
N IS THE NORTHPOINT THAT NEVER POINTS WRONG,
O ARE THE ORDERS, OF WHICH WE MUST BEWARE, AND
P ARE THE PUMPS THAT CAUSE SAILORS TO SWEAR.
Q IS THE QUADRANT THE SUN FOR TO TAKE,
R IS THE RIGGIN' THAT OFTEN DOES SHAKE,
S IS THE STARBOARD SIDE OF OUR BOLD SHIP, AND
T ARE THE TOPMASTS THAT OFTEN DO SPLIT.
U IS THE UGLIEST OLD CAPTAIN OF ALL,
V ARE THE VAPORS THAT COME WITH THE SQUALL,
W IS THE WINDLASS, 'ROUND WHICH WE MUST WIND, AND
X, Y AND Z, I CAN'T PUT TO RHYME.
Haruo = Leland Bryant Ross
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