Classic Poem

1. Now, come all you young sailors and listen to me, With your way ,
hayy, blow the man down, Ah, come all you young sailors and
listen to me, And we'll give 'em some time for to blow the man down!

2 Oh, blow the man down and we'll boot him around!

3 Now, I'll (I'll) tell you a story all about the high seas.

4 Oh, it ain't (it's not) very short nor it's not very long.

5 Oh, it's all of a young sailor bound home from Hong Kong.
It's about a young sailor bound home from Hong Kong. . . .

6 Now, as I was a-strollin' down Ratcliffe Highway,
As I went a-roving down Ratcliffe Highway,

7 A flash looking packet I chanced for to see.

8 She was bowling along with her waind blowing free,

9 She clewed up her courses and waited for me.

10 She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow.

11 Oh, where she did hail from I could not tell,

12 So I threw out my flipper and we're both bound to hell.
Oh, I gave her my flipper and we're both bound to hell.

13 I've fought with the Irish and fought with the Dutch,

14 With Johnny Crapoo [Crapaud] and Johnny the Bull. . . .

15 Now (Oh), come all you young sailors, take warning from me.

16 Never (Oh, never) take a young Highway girl on your knee!