Here's another "new old song" of the sea. It's the tale of a hardy young sailor who goes off whaling and arrives to the Jamaican harbor town Port Royal, where he is seduced and corrupted by the evil demon Drink. Not just any Drink... but Port Royal rum!
It's a tragic song, as some sea songs are, for the lusty robust young man is now a rummy old wharf rat singing songs for "scurvy sea scum!" in a grubby port tavern. (I've played a few places like that in my time!)
Lyrics
At Port Royal town, first time arrived I
As crew to the English whale ship “Garmarye”
I first tasted rum in the port taverns there
And the port tavern wenches were buxom and fair
(The port tavern wenches were buxom and fair)
Oh life in Port Royal did appeal to me
I hated like hell to go back off to sea
The Port Royal rum called to me from afar
As I swabbed the deck, and hoisted the spar
(As he swabbed the deck, and hoisted the spar)
In Port Royal there lived a wench named Sweet Anne
Who knew all there’s to know about pleasin’ a man
I’d call out here name, and to me she’d come
Bearing a tankard of Port Royal rum
(She was bearing a tankard of Port Royal rum)
After dreamin’ of Port Royal rum in me bed
I’d stand me watch, atop the masthead
Conning the waves for the sperm whales’ spout
Shiverin' I’d sneak me little old rum-flask out
(Shiverin' he’d sneak his little rum-flask out)
Oh the Devil’s in the bottle, Hell is in the cask
But I couldn’t see no harm in just nippin’ at me flask
So I kept on a-nippin’ ‘til one day I was caught
And I learned then the dangers with which rum is fraught
(He learned then the dangers with which rum is fraught)
The first mate stripped me shirt off and lashed me to the rail
Then the bosun, he lashed me with the cat-o-nine tail
They splashed rum on me back and laughed as I cried
And I wished to the Lord then and there for to die
(He wished to the Lord then and there for to die)
For quite a long time I was cured of me thirst
I did me best, but the Devil did his worst
If I’d never set foot more on Port Royal’s pier
I’d not be this old wharf rat that ye see here
(He’d not be the old wharf rat that we see here)
Yes the drink and the Devil and the years done for me
‘Tis the wreck of a once hardy sailor ye see
Croakin' songs in this tavern
For scurvy sea scum!
And beggin' for one swallow
Of Port Royal Rum
At Port Royal town, first time arrived I
As crew to the English whale ship “Garmarye”
I first tasted rum in the port taverns there
And the Port Royal wenches were buxom and fair
Oh the Port Royal wenches were buxom and fair!