MacGregor Aurara (1817, Stirling)/Poor Jack
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POOR JACK.
Go patter to lubbers and swabs, d'ye see,
'Bout danger and fear and the like;
A water-tight boat and good sea-room give me,
And it a'ent to a little I'll strike;
Tho' the tempest top-gallant masts smack smooth should smite
And shiver each splinter of wood,
Clear the deck, stow the yards, and howse every thing tight.
And under reef'd foresail, we'll scud;
Avast—nor dont think me a milk-sop so soft,
To be taken for trifles a-back,
For they say there's a Providence sits up aloft,
To keep watch for the life of Poor Jack.
'Bout danger and fear and the like;
A water-tight boat and good sea-room give me,
And it a'ent to a little I'll strike;
Tho' the tempest top-gallant masts smack smooth should smite
And shiver each splinter of wood,
Clear the deck, stow the yards, and howse every thing tight.
And under reef'd foresail, we'll scud;
Avast—nor dont think me a milk-sop so soft,
To be taken for trifles a-back,
For they say there's a Providence sits up aloft,
To keep watch for the life of Poor Jack.
Why I heard the good Chaplain palaver one day
About souls, heaven, mercy, and such:
And my timbers—what lingo he'd coil and belay,
Why 'twas just all as one as High Dutch.
But he said how a sparrow cant founder, d'ye see,
Without orders that comes down below,
And many fine things that prov'd clearly to me,
That Providence takes us in tow.
For says he do you mind me, let storms e'er so oft
Take the top-sails of sailors a-back,
There's a sweet little Cherub sits perch'd up aloft,
To keep watch for the life of Poor Jack.
About souls, heaven, mercy, and such:
And my timbers—what lingo he'd coil and belay,
Why 'twas just all as one as High Dutch.
But he said how a sparrow cant founder, d'ye see,
Without orders that comes down below,
And many fine things that prov'd clearly to me,
That Providence takes us in tow.
For says he do you mind me, let storms e'er so oft
Take the top-sails of sailors a-back,
There's a sweet little Cherub sits perch'd up aloft,
To keep watch for the life of Poor Jack.
I said to our Poll, for you see she would cry,
When last we weigh'd anchor for sea,
What argufies sniv'ling and piping your eye;
Why what a damn'd fool you must be!
Cant you see the world's wide and there's room for us all
Both for seamen and lubbers a-shore,
And if to old Davy I should go dear Poll,
Why you never shall hear of me more.
What then? all's a hazard come be so soft
Perhaps I may laughing come back:
For, d'ye see, there's a Cherub sit smiling aloft,
To keep watch for the life of Poor Jack.
When last we weigh'd anchor for sea,
What argufies sniv'ling and piping your eye;
Why what a damn'd fool you must be!
Cant you see the world's wide and there's room for us all
Both for seamen and lubbers a-shore,
And if to old Davy I should go dear Poll,
Why you never shall hear of me more.
What then? all's a hazard come be so soft
Perhaps I may laughing come back:
For, d'ye see, there's a Cherub sit smiling aloft,
To keep watch for the life of Poor Jack.
D'ye mind me, a sailor should be every inch
All one as a piece of a ship
And with her brave the world, without offering to flinch,
From the moment the anchor's a-trip;
As for me, in all weathers, all times, sides, and
Nought's a trouble from duty that springs,
My heart is my Poll's, and my rhino my friends,
And as for my life 'tis the king's
E'en when the time comes, ne'er believe me so soft,
As with grief to be taken aback,
That same little Cherub that sits up aloft,
Will look out—a good birth for Poor Jack.
All one as a piece of a ship
And with her brave the world, without offering to flinch,
From the moment the anchor's a-trip;
As for me, in all weathers, all times, sides, and
Nought's a trouble from duty that springs,
My heart is my Poll's, and my rhino my friends,
And as for my life 'tis the king's
E'en when the time comes, ne'er believe me so soft,
As with grief to be taken aback,
That same little Cherub that sits up aloft,
Will look out—a good birth for Poor Jack.