The Vanguard

Come, all you seamen, stout and bold, and listen to my song,
It's worth your whole attention, I'll not detain you long.

CHORUS.

Then let us sing the Vanguard's praise, proclaim her valiant name,
Cruel usage I have met with since I sail'd in the same.

Concerning of the Vanguard, a ship of noble fame,
With her r—— commander, Mickey Walker call'd by name.

At four o'clock you must turn out, the decks to holystone ;
One and all you must go down upon your marrow bones.

Then Mr. Croycraft comes on deck, and he'll begin to curse and swear;
Both watches of gunners send up on deck to see your lashings are all square.

At eight o'clock it's up top-gallant yards, to the mast-head you must run,
And if you are not the first ship, your name is taken down.

Then down from the mast-head to the gangway you must repair,
And there is the gratings rigged ready to punish you there.

And when on shore by leave you go, if beyond your time you stay,
Then you are put on the stage party for the space of sixty days.

Then next you're put in chokey, boys, you get both thin and white ;
And if you break your liberty, scrub copper from morning till night.

But if you are in the black list, as true as I'm a sinner,
Then you must polish brass-work while the crew are at their dinner.

But if a fighting you do go, you'll never get any rest;
They will drive you off the lower deck, in the galley for to mess.

And when you are in the galley mess, your heart is fill'd with woe;
Your monthly money it is stopt, on shore you must not go.

Now, you seamen of the Vanguard, you had better not get drunk ;
You will be laid upon your back, and they'll use the stomach pump.

If your hammock it is dirty, and you know no reason why,
Then you must scrub it in the head, carry it on a boat-hook to dry.

There's a man on our lower deck, he is called Jondy Cross;
If I had my will of him, I'd overboard him toss.

But when on shore the bully comes, if with him you should fall in,
The w——e that gives to him a drubbing shall have a gown and a gallon of gin.

So now to conclude, and finish my song;
I am a saucy mizen-top man, to the Vanguard does belong.

But if to sea I go again, I'd sooner swing in a halter,
Before I'd sail in any ship commanded by Mickey Walker.