Classic Poem

Come all ye young sailor men, listen to me,
I'll sing you a song of the fish of the sea.
Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow,
We're bound to the south'ard, so steady she goes.

2

Oh, first come the shale, the biggest of all,
He clumb up aloft and let ev'ry sail fall.
CHORUS : Then blow, etc.

3

And next come the mack'rel with his striped back,
He hauled aft the sheets and boarded each tack.
CHORUS : Then blow, etc.

4

Then come the porpoise with his short snout,
He went to the wheel crying, " Ready! About! "
CHORUS : Then blow, etc.

5

Then come the smelt, the smallest of all,
He jumped to the poop, and sung out, " Topsail haul! "
CHORUS : Then blow, etc.

6

The herring come saying, " I'm king of the seas,
If you want any wind, why I'll blow you a breeze. "
CHORUS : Then blow, etc.

7

Next came the cod with his chuckle-head;
He went to the main-chains to heave at the lead.
CHORUS : Then blow, etc.

8

Last came the flounder as flat as the ground,
Says, " Damn your eyes, chuckle-head, mind how you sound! "
CHORUS : Then blow, etc.