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OH, ROW, HEAVE AND GO Pulling Chantey Lead: Richard

LYRICS:

Solo: What is in the pot a-boiling?
Chorus: Oh, row, heave and go
Solo: Two sheep shanks and an apple pie dumpling
Chorus: Oh, row, heave and go

There was a ship she sailed to Spain
There was a ship she sailed to Spain

There was a ship came back again
There was a ship came back again

And what do you think was in her hold?
And what do you think was in her hold?

She had diamonds, she had gold
She had diamonds, she had gold

And what was in her lazareet?
And what was in her lazareet?

Why, good split peas and bad bull meat
Why, good split peas and bad bull meat

And who do you think was the old man on her?
Slimy Jim, the squarehead man

And who do you think was the chief mate of her?
Why Bossy Bill, the Bowery Bastard

Many sailormen are drowned
Many sailormen are drowned

And if we drown when we are young
Well, better drown than to be hung

NOTES:

This pulling shanty was collected by Cecil Sharp from a Mr. Allison of Perth. Only one verse was given and the remaining verses were culled from a related shanty. A "lazareet" is a name originating in the countries which border the Mediterranean meaning a leper quarter; used aboard of sailing ships for a room set aside as a sick-bay, or store-room when no one was sick.