Motley Words

Sing ho! for a brave an’ a gallant ship,
An’ a fast an’ fav’rin’ breeze,
Wi’ a bully crew an’ a cap’n to
To carry her over the seas;
To carry her over the seas, me boys,
And my true love far away,
For she’s takin’ a trip on a Government ship
Ten thousand miles away.

Oh blow, ye winds and blow! An’ a-rovin’ she will go.
She’ll stay no more on England’s shore to hear the fiddle play
For she’s off on a trip on a government ship
Ten thousand miles away.

Oh, it wuz a summer’s mornin’,
When last I saw my Meg
She’d a Government band around each hand
An’ another one round her leg
Oh, another one round her leg, m’boys
As the big ship left the bay,
“Adieu,” she sez, “remember me,
Ten thousand miles away!”
(Chorus)

I wish I wuz a bosun bold
Or a sailor without fear
I’d man a boat and away I’d float
An’ straight for me true love steer;
An’ straight for me true love steer, m’boys
Where the whales an’ dolphins play,
Where the whales an’ sharks are havin’ their larks
Ten thousand miles away.
(Chorus)

Oh, the sun may shine through the London fog
Or the river Colne run clear,
Or the ocean brine turn into wine
Or I forget my beer
Or I forget my beer, m’boys
Or the landlord’s bill to pay,
But I’ll never forget me own true love
Ten thousand miles away.

Chorus x 2
8 beats on beginning of chorus 2