Social Commentaries

The Port Admiral

by Anonymous (Naval Songs and Ballads) 16th–19th century

From Naval Songs and Ballads, ed. C. H. Firth (1908)

Social Commentaries

Twas at the landing place that's just below Mount Wyse,
Poll leaned against the sentry's box, a tear in both her eyes:
Her apron twisted round her arms, all for to keep them warm,
Being a windy Christmas Day, and also a snow-storm.
And Bet and Sue
Both stood there too,
A-shivering by her side ;
They both were dumb,
And both look'd glum
As they watched the ebbing tide.
Poll put her arms a-kimbo :
At the admiral's house look'd she ;
To thoughts before in limbo,
She now a vent gave free.
You have sent the ship in a gale to work,
On a lee-shore to be jammed;
I'll give you a piece of my mind, old Turk :.
Port Admiral, you be damned.

CHORUS.

Will give you a piece of our mind, old Turk:
Port Admiral, you be damned.

Whoever heard in the sarvice of a frigate made to sail
On Christmas Day, it blowing hard, with sleet, and snow, and hail ?
I wish I had the fishing of your back that is so bent,
I'd use the galley poker hot, unto your heart's content.
Here Bet and Sue
Are with me too,
A-shivering by my side ;
They both are dumb,
And both look glum,
And watch the ebbing tide.
Poll put her arms a-kimbo :
At the admiral's house looked she;
To thoughts that were in limbo,
She now a vent gave free.
You've got a roaring fire, I'll bet:
In it your toes are jammed;
Let's give him a piece of our mind, my Bet:
Port Admiral, you be damned !

CHORUS.

Let's give him a piece of our mind, my Bet ;
Port Admiral, you be damned.

I had the flour, and plums all picked, and suet all chopped fine,
To mix into a pudding rich, for all the mess to dine :
I pawn'd my ear-rings for the beef, it weighed at least a stone :
Now my fancy man is sent to sea, and I am left alone.
Here's Bet and Sue
Who stand here too,
A-shivering by my side;
They both are dumb,
They both look glum,
And watch the ebbing tide.
Poll put her arms a-kimbo :
At the admiral's house look'd she ;
To thoughts that were in limbo,
She now a vent gave free :
You've got a turkey, I'll be bound,
With which you will be crammed ;
I'll give you a bit of my mind, old hound:
Port Admiral, you be damned.

CHORUS.

We'll give you a bit of our mind, old hound:
Port Admiral, you be damned.

I'm sure that in this weather they cannot cook their meat:
To eat it raw on Christmas Day will be a pleasant treat;
Eut let us all go home, girls ; it's no use waiting here :
We'll hope that Christmas Day to come they'll have a better cheer.
So Bet and Sue,
Don't stand here too,
A-shivering by my side;
Don't keep so dumb,
Don't look so glum,
'Nor watch the ebbing tide.
Poll put her arms a-kimbo :
At the admiral's house look'd she;
To thoughts that were in limbo,
She now a vent gave free.

So while they cut their raw salt junks,
With dainties you'll be cramm'd;
Here's once for all my mind, old hunks :
Port Admiral, you be damned.

CHORUS.

So once for all our mind, old hunks :
Port Admiral, you be damned.

MLA

Anonymous (Naval Songs and Ballads). “The Port Admiral.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-naval-songs/162/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Naval Songs and Ballads). “The Port Admiral.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-naval-songs/162/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Anonymous (Naval Songs and Ballads)