Drunken Sailor

Released both as a standalone single and the final track on Written in Salt, this is a Longest Johns arrangement of the traditional tune "Drunken Sailor". It uses the standard chorus from the traditional song, but the verses are original, written by Dave Robinson.

Factoids[]

The original song is a stamp-and-go shanty, likely originating in the early 19th century. Such shanties were used on very large ships for hauling ropes while marching along the deck. By the mid-19th century, the advent of smaller merchant packet and clipper ships meant that such tasks became much less common and the usage of these shanties declined.

Capt. W. B. Whall, a veteran English sailor of the 1860s–70s, commented in his 1910 collection Sea Songs and Shanties that "Drunken Sailor" was one of only two shanties permitted in the British Royal Navy, where singing while at work was generally frowned upon.

The song shares a tune with the traditional Irish folk song "Óró sé do bheatha abhaile".

Lyrics[]

From Tortuga's port we put to sea and sailed for sixteen days
In the biggest storm I'd ever seen, we almost lost our way
When a call came from a deckhand: "Boys, I think she's going down"
"But don't you fear, there's enough rum here
(To drink until we drown!")

{Chorus}
Ho!
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
Ear-ly in the morning
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
Ear-ly in the morning

So each deckhand grabbed a barrel, broke the seal and took a swig
And soon their screams turned into songs, their panicked work turned into jigs
The first mate bellowed orders, ever trying to save their skins
"Any drunken wretch the captain catch:
(He'll beat all limb from limb!")

{Chorus}

Every man continued drinking, all their duties long forgot
They were deaf to every order, ‘til they heard a pistol shot
The captain stood on fo'c'sle, swung the cat above his head
"Back to yer post or by my ghost,
(Ye'll wish that ye were dead!")

{Chorus}

Every drunk received a beating, some of the drunker managed two
The captain kept an eye until he’d sobered up his crew
He then retired to quarters, put the rum upon his shelf
Sat in his seat, put up his feet
(And drank the rest himself!)

{Chorus}

Put him in the longboat 'til he's sober
Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Throw him in the hold with the captain’s daughter
Ear-ly in the morning

Drunken Sailor

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