Boston Harbour

According to Stan Hugill it was a popular chantey onboard American vessels during the mid 19th century. "Ring-tail" is a triangular sail that is set for extra speed above the quadrangular "gaff" sail on the mizen or rear mast of an older sailing ship.

 

 
 
Boston Harbour
 
From Boston harbour we set sail
And the wind was blowin' the devil of a gale
With the ring-tail set all about the mizzen peak
And the Rule Britannia plowin' up the deep
With a big bow wow, tow row row
Fal dee rall dee di do day.
 
Then up steps the skipper from down below
And it’s aloft, boys, and it’s look alow
And it’s looks alow and it’s look aloft
And it's tighten up your ropes, boys, fore and aft.
With a big bow wow, tow row row
Fal dee rall dee di do day.
 
Then it's down to his cabin he quickly crawls
To his poor old steward then he bawls
"Fix me a glass that will make me cough
'Cause it's better weather here than it is up aloft."
With a big bow wow, tow row row
Fal dee rall dee di do day.
 
While it's we poor seamen that are up on the decks
With the blasted rain falling down our necks
And not a drop of grog will he afford
For he damns our eyes with every other word.
With a big bow wow, tow row row
Fal dee rall dee di do day.

Now there's just one thing we all do crave
That he will find a watery grave
We will heave him down into some dark hole
Where the sharks'll have his body and the Devil have his soul.
With a big bow wow, tow row row
Fal dee rall dee di do day.