SONGS
'Rig it, dig it, stig it, quig it ...'
Chapter 101 – The Decanter
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First things first
says one sailor to another
Forget the pay
what’s to drink, brother?
Before I set one leg upon this ship
Before ya say
where we’re off to on this trip
I’ll make it plain
and tell ya face to face
I ain’t going without gin
I drink it by the case
By the case, by the case
By the case, case, case
I can drink it night and day
While still whalin’ away
By the gill by the quart
By the barrel, any sort
Tell me do ye carry gin, man,
by the case?
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Chapter 40 –Midnight, Forecastle
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'Rig it, dig it, stig it, quig it,'
dance with me, sailor boy.
I’m far from my home
the seas I do roam
Let’s drink and dance while we can!
'Crack, crack old ship!'
mind ya don’t take a tip
and land in the deep blue sea
'A row a row,' and away we go
May God be with you and me.
Chapter 39 – First Night Watch
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We know not
what lies in store, so
Why not laugh?
What’s worry for?
Why not laugh.
The bubbles that break
on your glass and mine
The froth on our lips
from this ale divine
We smile and we grin
Guffaws to the brim
Cuz I’d rather not know
what’s coming, my friend.
Why not laugh?
Chapter 15 – Chowder
Just landed and a nip’s in the air,
Ye can keep yer gold and silver,
give me chowder!
Comon’ lads, pull up a chair,
Ye can choose from clam or codfish
Give me chowder!
Hot steaming bowls
to chase the cold away
Rubbing elbows with my mates,
Bring it here now, don’t delay!
No, don’t mull it -
Fill yer gullet
Give me chowder!
Give me chowder!
Give me chowder!
(When’s breakfast?)
Chapter 54 – The Town–Ho’s Story
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Take us away
from the deck or the hammock
From monotony’s dulling glare
Spin us a tale full of
grit, spit and spirit
and make us all wish we were there.
The stakes must be high
for those risking it all
And the hero, tall and well–featured
And if you can,
let there be Moby-Dick
That hideous, milky-white creature.
'The White Whale!
The White Whale!'
A chorus of woe rises up
with excitement and dread
But despite all the
fury and flurry of men
tis not Moby-Dick
who lies dead.
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Chapter 127 – The Deck
May the song that ye sing
light yer way ease yer load
Hey, hey
May the ring of yer mallet
be the tune of yer ode
Hey
Not a thought in yer head
to intrude on the task
But a little conversation
makes the job go fast
Sing a song if ye like
to the beat of this spike
Nail it in -- Hey, hey
Nail it in.
Chapter 84 – Pitchpoling
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Pitchpoling
Whale rolling
Stubbs does excel
Handling,
Dandling
The lance he propels
Aiming to kill
Blood he does spill
Sure footing
Caputting
There’s no parallel.
Chapter 69 – The Funeral
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Oh, Horrible vultureism of earth!
No one mourns this whale
Let me
Remember a life
Once mighty and free
Let me
Sing his praises now he’s dead
A melancholy song inside my head
Never forgetting
He ruled the seas
Let me
Let me
Let me