Classic Poem

1.

First Voice.

With a long heavy heave, my very famous men. . . .
(C HORUS . Bring home! heave and rally! )

Second Voice.

And why do you, lad, look so pale? Is it for love, or lack of ale?

First Voice.

All hands bear a hand that have a hand to len' —
And there never was a better haul than you gave then ...
(C HORUS . Bring home! )

2.

First Voice.

Heave hearty, my very famous men ...
( Bring home! heave and rally! )

Second Voice.

Curl and scud, rack and squall — sea-clouds you shall know them all ...

First Voice.

For we're bound for Valparaiso and round the Horn again
From Monte Desolado to the parish of Big Ben! ...
( Bring home! )

First Voice.

Heave hearty, my very famous men ...
( Bring home! heave and rally! )

Second Voice.

Bold through all or scuppers under, when shall we be back, I wonder?

First Voice.

From the green and chancy water we shall all come back again
To the Lizard and the ladies — but who can say for when? ...
( Bring home! )

4.

First Voice.

Heave and she's a-trip, my very famous men ...
( Bring home! heave and rally! )

Second Voice.

When your fair lass says farewell to you a fair wind I will sell to you ...

First Voice.

You may sell your soul's salvation, but I'll bet you two-pound-ten
She's a-tripping on the ribs of the devil in his den...
( Bring home! )

First Voice.

Heave and she's a-peak, my very famous men ...
( Bring home! heave and rally! )

Second Voice.

You shall tread, for one cruzado, Fiddler's Green in El Dorado ...

First Voice.

Why, I've seen less lucky fellows pay for liquor with doubloons
And for 'baccy with ozellas, gold mohurs, and ducatoons! ...
( Bring home! )

6.

First Voice.

Heave and a-weigh, my very famous men ...
( Bring home! heave and rally! )

Second Voice.

And drop her next in heat or cold, the flukes of England they shall hold! ...

First Voice.

Ring and shank, stock and fluke, she's coming into ken —
Give a long and heavy heave, she's a-coming into ken. ...
( Bring home! )

7.

First Voice.

Heave and in sight, my very famous men ...
( Bring home! heave and rally! )

Second Voice.

With her shells and tangle dripping she's a beauty we are shipping ...

First Voice.

And she likes a bed in harbour like a decent citizen,
But her fancy for a hammock on the deep sea comes again ...
( Bring home! )

8.

First Voice.

Heave and she's a-wash, my very famous men ...
( Bring home! heave and rally! )

Second Voice.

O never stop to write the news that we are off upon a cruise ...

First Voice.

For the Gulf of Californy's got a roller now and then,
But it's better to be sailing than a-sucking of a pen ...
( Bring home! )