Fireship
Hugill says that this originated as a 17th Century English ballad, but was often sung at the pumps. He has also heard it sung as a version of “Can’t You Dance the Polkaâ€. The Weavers cleaned it up and had a 1950 hit with “the Roving Kindâ€. The late Guy Mitchell also recorded it and got to number 4 in the charts! The original is sometimes known as “The Pirate Shipâ€.
The Fireship
As
I wuz a roll-in' down the High-way
one morn,
I spied a flash packet from ol'
Wapping town
As soon as I seed her I slacked me main brace,
An' I hoist-ed me stun-sl's an' to
her gave chase,
Me rigging un-frayed
Come rattle my rigging down
Come rattle my rigging down Ratcliffe Highway
I
fired me bow-chaser, the signal she knew
She backed her main tops'l an' for me hove to'
I lowered down me jolly-boat an'
pulled alongside,
An' I found madam's gangway wuz open an'
wide.
And me rigging un-frayed
Chorus
I
entered her little cabin, an' swore,
"Damn ‘er eyes!"
What was she but a fireship rigged up in disguise;
She
had a foul bottom, from sternpost to fore;
'Tween the wind and water she ran me
ashore.
Me rigging frayed
Chorus …
Set fire to me rigging, likewise to me hull
And away to the hospital I had to skull
With me helm hard a-starboard as I rolled along
Me shipmates cried out “Jack, yer main yard is sprung …
And
yer rigging is frayedâ€
Chorus
Now
I’m safe in the harbour, me moorings all fast,
I lay here quite snug, boys, till all danger is past;
With me mainyard all served, boys, an’ parcelled an’ tarred,
Wasn't that a stiff breeze when I
sprung me mainyard?
And me rigging was frayed
Chorus