'Twas in the good ship Rover

'Twas in the good ship Rover
I sailed the world around,
And for three years and over
I ne'er touch'd British ground;
At length in England landed,
I left the roaring main,
Found all relations stranded,
And went to sea again.

That time bound straight to Portugal,
Right fore and aft we bore;
But, when we'd made Cape Ortugal,
A gale blew off the shore:
She lay, so did it shock her,
A log upon the main;
Till, sav'd from Davy's locker,
We put to sea again.

Next in a frigate sailing,
Upon a squally night,
Thunder and lightening hailing
The horrors of the fight,
My precious limb was lopped off,
I, when they'd eas'd my pain,
Thank'd God I was not popped off,
And went to sea again.

Yet still am I enabled
Do bring up in life's rear,
Although I'm quite disabled,
And lie in Greenwich tier;
The king, God bless his royalty,
Who saved me from the main,
I'll praise with love and loyalty,
But ne'er to sea again.