Go patter to lubbers and swabs d'ye see

Go patter to lubbers and swabs d'ye see
'Bout danger, and fear, and the like,
A tight water boat and good sea room give me,
And t'ent to a little I strike;
Though the tempest top gallant masts smack smooth should smite,
And shiver each splinter of wood,
Clear the wreck, stow the yards, and bouze every thing tight,
And under reef'd foresail we'll scud:
Avast, nor don't think me a milk-sop so soft
To be taken for trifles aback,
For they says there's a providence sits up aloft,
To keep watch for the life of poor Jack.

Why I heard the good chaplain palaver one day
About souls, heaven, mercy, and such,
And, my timbers, what lingo he'd coil and belay,
Why 'twas just all as one as high Dutch:
But he said how a sparrow can't founder, d'ye see,
Without orders that comes down below,
And many fine things that prov'd clearly to me,
That providence takes us in tow;
For says he, do you mind me, let storms e'er so oft
Take the top-sails of sailors aback,
There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft,
To keep watch for the life of poor Jack.

I said to our Poll, for you see she would cry,
When last we weighed anchor for sea,
What argufies sniv'ling and piping your eye?
Why what a damn'd fool you must be:
Can't you see the world's wide and there's room for us all,
Both for seamen and lubbers ashore;
And if to old Davy I should go friend Poll,
Why you never will hear of me more:
What then, all's a hazard, come don't be so soft,
Perhaps I may laughing come back,
For d'ye see there's a cherub sits smiling aloft,
To keep watch for the life of poor Jack.

D'ye mind me a sailor should be every inch
All as one as a piece of a ship,
And with her brave the world without offering to flinch
From the moment the anchor's a trip:
As for me, in all weathers, all times, sides, and ends,
Nought's a trouble from duty that springs,
For my heart is my Poll's, and my rhino my friend's,
And as for my life 'tis the king's:
Even when my time comes ne'er believe me so soft
As with grief to be taken aback,
That same little cherub that sits up aloft
Will look out a good birth for poor Jack.