Blow the Man Down

      Hauling Shanty – Specifically Halyards

                                     

As I was out walking down Paradise Street

     To me, way hey, blow the man down

A pretty young damsel I chanced for to meet

     Give me some time to blow the man down

 

She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow

     To me, way hey, blow the man down

So I took in all sail and cried “weigh enough now”

     Give me some time to blow the man down

 

I hailed her in English, she answered me clear

     To me, way hey, blow the man down

I’m from the Black Arrow, bound to the Shakespeare

     Give me some time to blow the man down

 

So I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow

     To me, way hey, blow the man down

And yardarm to yardarm, away we did go

     Give me some time to blow the man down

 

And as we were a going she said unto me

     To me, way hey, blow the man down

There’s a spankin’ full rigger just ready for sea

     Give me some time to blow the man down

 

That spankin’ full rigger to New York was bound

     To me, way hey, blow the man down

She was very well manned and very well found

     Give me some time to blow the man down

 

But as soon as that packet was clear of the bar

     To me, way hey, blow the man down

The mate knocked me down with the end of a spar

     Give me some time to blow the man down

 

As soon as that packet was out on the sea

     To me, way hey, blow the man down

Was devilish hard treatment of every degree

     Give me some time to blow the man down

 

So I give you fair warning before we belay

     To me, way hey, blow the man down

Don’t ever take heed of what pretty girls say

     Give me some time to blow the man down