Distressed Men of War

Says Jack, ' There is very good news; there is peace both by land and by sea;
Great guns no more shall be used, for we all disbanded must be.'

Says the admiral, 'That's very bad news;' says the captain, ' My heart it will break ;'
The lieutenant cries, ' What shall I do ? for I know not what course for to take.'

Says the purser, ' I'm a gentleman born; my coat is lined with gold,
And my chest is full of the same, by cheating of sailors so bold.'

Says the doctor, ' I'm a gentleman too, I'm a gentleman of the first rank ;
I will go to some country fair, and there I'll set up mountebank.'

Says the steward, ' I'm sorry it's peace, for I love my ship as my life,
And by cheating of honest Jack Tars I have plenty of shiners so bright.'

Says the carpenter, ' I have a chest, a chest of very good tools;
I will go to some country fair and there I'll sell three-legged stools.'

Says the cook, ' I will go to that fair, and there I will sell all my fat.'

Says Jack Tar, ' If I should meet you there, damn me, I'll pay you for that ;

For don't you remember the time our topsail stuck close to the tack,
And we all stuck fast in the sheet, for want of some of that fat ?'

Says the midshipman, ' I have no trade; I have got my trade for to chuse:
I will go to St. James Park gate, and there I'll set blacking of shoes;

'And there I will set all the day, at everybody's call,
And every one that comes by, " Do you want my nice shining balls?"'

Says Jack, ' I will take to the road, for I'd better do that than do worse;
And every one that comes by, I'll cry, " Damn you, deliver your purse."'