Here is a sample of
it:--
"I thought I heard the skipper say,
'Leave her, Johnnie, leave her!
To-morrow you will get your pay,
Leave her, Johnnie, leave her!'
The work was hard, the voyage was long;--
Leave her, Johnnie, leave her!
The seas were high, the gales were strong;--
It's time for us to leave her!
The food was bad, the wages low;--
Leave her, Johnnie, leave her!
But now ashore again we'll go;--
It's time for us to leave her!
The sails are furled, our work is done!
Leave her, Johnnie, leave her!
And now on shore we'll have our fun!
It's time for us to leave her! &c, &c."
Such songs were not stereotyped in their composition. They
varied according to circumstances. Sometimes they were
denunciatory, and at other times full of fun, praise of the
ship, and pathos. There was seldom a middle course, but
whatever side was taken the spontaneous poetic effusion was
not ended until the whole story had been unfolded.
CHAPTER XII
JACK IN RATCLIFF HIGHWAY
As soon as the vessel was moored in a home port, decks
cleared up and washed down, the mate intimated to the crew
that their services would not be required any longer; and
those who wanted it, received a portion of the balance of
wages due to them in advance until they signed clear of the
articles.
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