Lyrics – for mutinous mob participation

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Lyrics – for mutinous mob participation

Enough with yer bilge ye lily-livered landlubbers – get caterwauling with this handy guide to the scurvy-infested, barnacle-bottomed lyrical realm of the dry seamen.

Singapore

Tom Waits

We sail tonight for Singapore
We’re all as mad as hatters here
I’ve fallen for a tawny moor
Took off to the land of nod
Drank with all the Chinamen
Walked the sewers of Paris
I danced along a colored wind
Dangled from a rope of sand
You must say goodbye to me

We sail tonight for Singapore
Don’t fall asleep while you’re ashore
Cross your heart and hope to die
When you hear the children cry
Let marrow bone and cleaver choose
While making feet for children’s shoes
Through the alley, back from hell
When you hear that steeple bell
You must say goodbye to me

Wipe him down with gasoline
Till his arms are hard and mean
From now on boys this iron boat’s your home
So heave away, boys

We sail tonight for Singapore
Take your blankets from the floor
Wash your

Katie Bar the Door

Katie, bar the door, the Devil’s here again
He’s looking for a savior, he’s looking for a friend
The Devil drinks in places you and I have never been
So Katie, bar the door, and never let him in

When I was just a young’un, Sir, came without a sound
She said this ship had sank and now the sailors drowned

When I was eighteen years old, I was down in the hold
Of a prison ship bound for Australia
Many good men were we, on the bastard of the sea
And the dry seamen say Haul away! Haul away!

So, Katie, bar the door, the Devil’s here again
He’s looking for a savior, he’s looking for a friend
The Devil drinks in places you and I have never been
So Katie, bar the door, and never let him in

Baltimore Whores

There were four old whores from Baltimore

Drinking the blood red wine

And all the conversation was

“Yours is smaller than mine.”

Chorus:

Through me roly, poly, tickle my hole-y,

Smell of my slimy slough,

and drag your nuts across me guts,

I’m one of the whorey crew.

“You’re a liar,” said the first whore,

“Mine’s as big as the air

The birds fly in, the birds fly out,

And never touch a hair.”

Chorus:

“You’re a liar.” said the second,

“Mine’s as big as the sea

The ship sails in, the ship sails out

Never troubles me.”

Chorus:

“You’re a liar,” said the third whore,

“Mine’s as big as the moon,

the men jump in, the men jump out,

Never touch the womb.”

Chorus:

Swab your decks, me hearties

Slice them up with pride

Light your oars, you sons of whores

Yours is smaller than mine

“You’re a liar,” said the last whore,

“Mine’s the biggest of all,

the fleet sailed in on the first of June,

and didn’t come back till Fall.”

Chorus

Sea of heartbreak

The lights in the harbor
Don’t shine for me
I’m like a lost ship
Adrift on the sea

The sea of heartbreak
Lost love and loneliness
Memories of your caress
So divine, how I wish
You were mine again, my dear
I’m on this sea of tears
The sea of heartbreak

How did I lose you?
Oh, where did I fail?
Why did you leave me?
Always to sail

The sea of heartbreak
Lost love and loneliness
Memories of your caress
So divine, how I wish
You were mine again, my dear
I’m on this sea of tears
Sea of heartbreak

Oh, what I’d give to sail back to shore
Back to your arms once more

Oh, come to my rescue
Oh, come here to me
Take me…

Shenandoah

O Shenandoah, I long to see you
Away, you rolling riverO Shenandoah, I long to hear you
O Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Away, I’m bound to go ‘Cross the wide Missouri

For ten long years I courted Sally
Away, you rolling river
She broke my heart in Chalford valley
Away, I’m bound to go ‘Cross the wide Missouri

O Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Away, you rolling river
For her I’d cross the raging waterAway, I’m bound to go ‘Cross the wide Missouri
Away, I’m bound to go ‘Cross the wide Missouri

The Missouri, she’s a mighty river
Away, you rolling river
The Missouri, she’s a mighty river
Away, I’m bound to go ‘Cross the wide Missouri
Away, you rolling river
O Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Away, I’m bound to go ‘Cross the wide Missouri

10,000 miles away

My true love she was beautiful,
My true love she was fair;
Her eyes were like the diamonds bright
And golden was her hair.
And golden was her hair, my lads,
As the big ship left the bay
She said will you remember me
Ten thousand miles away!

Chorus (after each verse):

And sing blow the winds high-o,
A-roving I will go.
I’ll stay no more on England’s shore
For to hear the music play,
For I’m off on the morning train
And I won’t be back again.
For I’m taking a trip on a Government ship
Ten thousand miles away.

Oh dark and dismal was the day
When last I saw my Meg,
She’d a Government band around each hand
And another one around the leg.
And another one around the leg, my lads,
As the big ship sailed away,
I said that I’d be true to her
Ten thousand miles away.

Chorus

Oh the sun may shine through a London fog
And the river run quite clear,
And the ocean’s wine turn into brine
And I’ll forget my beer.
and I’ll forget my beer, my lads,
And the landlord’s cannot pay
Before I’ll forget my own dear Meg
Ten thousand miles away.

We're Coming in Loaded

Elvis Presley

Ooh yes we’re comin’ in loaded, Ooh yes we’re comin’ in loaded
I’ll hold the boat steady brother like a rock
Full speed a head until we hit the dock
We’re heading for home, the fishing was great
We’re comin’ in loaded ’cause we’re all out of bait
Well, well, well, well, well
Oh well now yeah!

We gottem packed to the water-line
Some got away but the catch was fine
Never saw such big ones, m’man oh man,
We’re comin’ in loaded just as fast as we can
Well, well, well, well, well
Oh well now yeah!

I’m gonna…

Sally Racket

Little Nancy Dawson, haul ‘er away

She’s got flannel drawers on, haul ‘er away

So says our old bosun, haul ‘er away

With me hauley-high-O! Haul ‘er away!

Little Sally Racket, haul ‘er away

She ships in a packet a, haul ‘er away

And she never did regret it, haul ‘er away

With me hauley-high-O! Haul ‘er away!

Little Betty Picker, haul ‘er away

Ran off with a Quaker, haul ‘er away

Guess her mom couldn’t shake her, haul ‘er away