Motley Words

Intro: 

The Dreadnought was a clipper built in 1853 at Newburyport, Massachusetts. She made extremely fast passages between New York and Liverpool for the Red Cross Line. The ship went down while doubling Cape Horn in 1869.

.There is a flash packet, flash packet of fame,
She hails from New York and the Dreadnought’s her name;
She’s bound to the westward where the stormy winds blow,
Bound away in the Dreadnought, to the westward we’ll go.
Derry down, down, down derry down.

Now the Dreadnought she lies in the River Mersey,
Awaiting the tug boat to take her to sea;
And around the Rock Light where the salt tides do flow,
Bound away in the Dreadnought, to the westward we’ll go.
Derry down, down, down derry down.

O, the Dreadnought’s a-howlin’ down the wild Irish Sea,
Her passengers merry, their hearts full of glee,
Her sailors like lions walk the deck to and fro,
She’s the Liverpool packet, O Lord, let her go!
Derry down, down, down derry down.

Now the Dreadnought’s a-sailin’ the Atlantic so wide,
Where the high roaring seas roll along her black side,
With her sails tautly set for the red cross to show,
She’s the Liverpool packet, O Lord, let her go!
Derry down, down, down derry down.

Now a health to the Dreadnought, and all her brave crew,
To bold Captain Samuels, his officers too,
Talk about your flash packets: Swallowtail and Black Ball,
The Dreadnought’s the flyer, that out-sails them all.
Derry down, down, down derry down.

She’s the Liverpool packet, the Liverpool packet, the Liverpool packet,
Oh Lord, let her go! 

Gigs