Allan Tine o' Harrow (1826)/Jack in his Element
JACK IN HIS ELEMENT.
Bold Jack the Sailor, here I come,pray how do you like my nib,My trowsers wide and trampers rum,my nab and flowing nib;I sail the seas from end to end,and lead a roving life,At every mess we find a friend,at every port a wife.
I have heard them talk of constancy,of grief and such like fun,I have constant been to ten cry'd I,but never griev'd for one.The flowing sails we tars unbend,to lead a roving life,At every mess we find a friend,at every port a wife.
I have a spanking wife at portsmouth gates,a Pigmy at Goree; An Orange Tawny up the Straits,a black at St Lucie;Thus whatsoever course we bend,we lead a jovial lifeAt every mess we find a friendat every port a wife.
Will Gaffe by Death was ta’en aback,I came to bring the news.Poll whimper’d sore, but what did Jack?why stood in William’s shoes.She cut, I chas‘d and in the end,she lov’d me as her life,So she has got a loving friend,and I a loving wife.
Come all you Sailors that do go,the unfortunate seas to run,You must work, love and fight your foes,and drink your generous bub:Storms that our masts in splinters tear,can make our joyous life,In every want we find a friend,and every port a wife.