Motley Words

As I walked out on a London street
A bold press gang I happened to meet
They asked me if I’d join the fleet
On board a man of war, boys, on board a man of war.

Why brother sailors and tell me true
What kind of usage they give you
That I may know before I go
On board a man of war, boys, on board a man of war.

When I got there to my surprise
All that they told me was rotten lies
there was no round and jolly old man
On board a man of war, boys, on board a man of war

Oh the first thing they done, they took me in hand
They lashed me with a tar and the strand
They whipped me till I could not stand
On board a man of war, boys, on board a man of war.

I was married, me wife’s name was Flo
‘Twas her who told me which way to go
I know now that she sold me away
On board a man of war, boys, on board a man of war.

But when I set me foot on shore
And I see the girls we all adore
Why I’ll never go to sea no more
On board of a man of war, boys, on board a man of…… war.