 | Songs of the sea and lays of the land |  |
TRUE BLUE
Blue is the sea we sail on,
And blue is the sky above,
And blue are the eyes
As sea or skies
Of the maiden whom I love:
And blue is the flag we're under,
And blue is the coat I wear;
But brighter the blue,
And deeper the hue
In the eyes which I hold so dear!
Bluer and brighter and sweeter,
Fonder and fair and as true;
Oh it's blue love and true love for ever!
And God bless the beautiful blue!
And blue is the sky above,
And blue are the eyes
As sea or skies
Of the maiden whom I love:
And blue is the flag we're under,
And blue is the coat I wear;
But brighter the blue,
And deeper the hue
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Bluer and brighter and sweeter,
Fonder and fair and as true;
Oh it's blue love and true love for ever!
And God bless the beautiful blue!
Now supper being over, every man
Lighted his pipe or called for a cigar,
Lolled in his chair—and all again began
To order “something lively” from the bar.
Jack Saltonstall, intent on keeping peace,
Waved a great South Sea club, and said, “I'm sent
By Providence to act as your police;”
And at the table sat as President.
He was a man of pleasing dignity,
And all allowed he would a captain be,
Calming all quarrels with a word and wink;
He had hot rum and lemon for his drink.
And as he sat in state, with the club of peace
Which he had taken from the chimney-piece,
He said to us: “What tales this bat could tell
Of many a battle—many a busted shell,
And murdered victims by the surfy shore,
And cani-bally feasts when all was o'er!”
Lighted his pipe or called for a cigar,
Lolled in his chair—and all again began
To order “something lively” from the bar.
Jack Saltonstall, intent on keeping peace,
Waved a great South Sea club, and said, “I'm sent
By Providence to act as your police;”
And at the table sat as President.
He was a man of pleasing dignity,
And all allowed he would a captain be,
Calming all quarrels with a word and wink;
He had hot rum and lemon for his drink.
And as he sat in state, with the club of peace
Which he had taken from the chimney-piece,
98
Of many a battle—many a busted shell,
And murdered victims by the surfy shore,
And cani-bally feasts when all was o'er!”
Quoth Sam of Jersey, “I hev seen such things
Among them natives, ordered by their kings,
As well might make a common pirate weep,
And the old devil feel uncommon cheap:
Such derned, infernal deeds, and parst all showin',
Pirates and slavers ain't the worst folk goin'.
There's things to which the worst they do is slow;
I've lived among 'em an I ort to know.
And yet among those natives there are some
As mild as lambs, and good and humoursome;
Who never fight no more than an old hen,
Such difference there is in mortal men.
I'll tell you now a tale, to make you sport,
Of one who chanced among this gentle sort.
Among them natives, ordered by their kings,
As well might make a common pirate weep,
And the old devil feel uncommon cheap:
Such derned, infernal deeds, and parst all showin',
Pirates and slavers ain't the worst folk goin'.
There's things to which the worst they do is slow;
I've lived among 'em an I ort to know.
And yet among those natives there are some
As mild as lambs, and good and humoursome;
Who never fight no more than an old hen,
Such difference there is in mortal men.
I'll tell you now a tale, to make you sport,
Of one who chanced among this gentle sort.
| Songs of the sea and lays of the land | |