Blow
the Man Down
(Variant 1)
Come all ye young fellows that follow the sea,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
And pray pay attention and listen to me,
Give me some time to blow the man down.
I'm a deep water sailor just in from Hong Kong,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
if you'll give me some grog, I'll sing you a song,
Give me some time to blow the man down.
'Twas on a Black Baller I first served my time,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
And on that Black Baller I wasted my prime,
Give me some time to blow the man down.
'Tis when a Black Baller's preparing for sea
to my way haye, blow the man down,
You'd split your sides laughing at the sights that you see.
Give me some time to blow the man down.
With the tinkers and tailors and soljers and all
to my way haye, blow the man down,
That ship for prime seaman on board a Black Ball.
Give me some time to blow the man down.
'Tis when a Black Baller is clear of the land,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
Our Boatswain then gives us the word of command
Give me some time to blow the man down.
"Lay aft," is the cry,"to the break of the Poop!
to my way haye, blow the man down,
Or I'll help you along with the toe of my boot!"
Give me some time to blow the man down.
'Tis larboard and starboard on the deck you will sprawl,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
For "Kicking Jack" Williams commands the Black Ball.
Give me some time to blow the man down.
Pay attention to order, now you one and all,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
For right there above you flies the Black Ball.
Give me some time to blow the man down.
Blow the Man Down
(Variant
2)
Come
all ye young fellows that follows the sea
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
Now please pay attention and listen to me
Give
me some time to blow the man down
I'm
a deep water sailor just come from Hong Kong
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
You give me some whiskey, I'll sing you a song
Give
me some time to blow the man down
When
a trim Black Ball liner's preparing for sea
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
On a trim Black Ball liner I wasted me prime
Give
me some time to blow the man down
When
a trim Black Ball liner preparing for sea
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
You'll split your sides laughing such sights you would see
Give
me some time to blow the man down
There's
tinkers and tailors, shoemakers and all
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
They're all shipped for
sailors aboard the Black Ball
Give
me some time to blow the man down
When
a big Black Ball liner's a-leaving her dock
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
The boys and the girls on the pier-head do flock
Give
me some time to blow the man down
Now,
when the big liner, she's clear of land
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
Our bosun he roars out the word of command
Give
me some time to blow the man down
Come
quickly, lay aft to the break of the poop
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
Or I'll help you along with the toe of me boot
Give
me some time to blow the man down
Pay
attention to orders, now, you one and all
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
For see high above there flies the Black Ball
Give
me some time to blow the man down
'Tis
larboard and starboard, on deck you will sprawl
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
For kicking Jack Rogers commands the Black Ball
Give
me some time to blow the man down
Oh, blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down!
To me way-aye, blow the man down.
Oh, Blow the man down, bullies, blow him right down!
Give me some time to blow the man
down!
Blow the Man Down
(Variant 3)
As I was a-walking down Paradise Street,
To me way-aye, 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 "Way 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
But as we were going she said unto me,
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
"There's a spanking full-rigger just ready for sea."
Give
me some time to blow the man down
That spanking 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 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
And as soon as that packet was out on the sea,
To
me, way hey, blow the man down
`Twas 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 never take heed of what pretty girls say.
Give
me some time to blow the man down
Blow the Man Down
(Bawdy Variant)
As
I was a-walking down Paradise Street
To me weigh, 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
So I put on all sail and cried, "Way hold up now!"
So
I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow,
And yardarm to yardarm away we did go
Said
she unto me, "Will you stand free?"
"Delighted!" says I, "for a charmer so sweet!"
She
swallowed a pint and I put down a quart
She listed to starboard, I listed to port
Twas
up in her quarters she piped me aboard
And there on her bed I cut loose with my sword!
I
ruffled her scuppers, I battered her stern
And down in her galley I was done to a turn
But
just as my cutter was a-forging ahead
She hollered, "My husband!" and she jumped out of bed
He
was seven feet tall with a chest like a horse
And straight for my jawbone he plotted his course
He
battered my rudder, he loosened my stays
And I flew down the steps like a ship on the ways
I
hopped on a packet that happened along
And when I woke up I was signed for Hong Kong
So,
young sailors, take warning before you delay
Don't never take heed of what pretty girls say!