The Anthem of Sailor Bill (1925)
This is the anthem of Sailor Bill, that he sang in the pagan days.This is the song he is singing still, adapted to modern ways.
For the old-time "salt" and the modern "shell"--adventurers one and all,
With hearts attuned to the "Rover's" spell, went out at the Ocean's call !-
Living their lives to a capstan song, with a curse for the things behlnd,
And a brave endeavour to "Jog along" and follow their fortunes blind ! There'll be cash to burn when the trip is done,
and a ship when the cash has flown
For old Ocean labels them one by one,
In a way that is all her own. (Ship the capstan-bars !) Give us a ship and our dally bread,
And the crash of seas on the fo'c's'le-head-- (And awa-ay Santa Anna !) A glass of grog when the moments drag.
And an oilskin-coat and a dunnage bag-- (For we're bound for the Rio Grande !) Your hard-earned pay will be easy spent,
For you'll "do it in" to the final cent,
You'll go ashore with a smiling face,
And a cheque as long as the mizzen brace ;
And you'll learn your fill of the long shore race-- (And we'll anchor In the lowlands low !) You'll do your dash with the girls, you know--
Welcome outstayed by a month or so--
Then back to the same old Sea you'll go.
Where the same old hookers ply to and fro (Then It's: Good-bye, fare you well !) You'll leave what you think's your heart behind--
But it's: Out of sight and you're out o' mind. . . .
Though Lais and Chloe were not unkind--
(And we'll pay Paddy Doyle for hi boots !) For this is the song of the sailor-man,
Who works to no partlc'lar plan ;
Who knocks off sudden where he began,
And "does his dough" on an "also ran"-- (And Ranzo was no sailor !) He is not given to useless brag--
He likes his. grog when the moments drag--
And hikes to sea when the women nag
With his oilskin coat and his dunnage bag. (This is the song of the Sailor). ALBATROSS. Notes From the NSW Newspaper Smith's Weekly 22 Aug 1925 p. 19.