Mirth and Metre consisting of Poems, Serious, Humorous, and Satirical; Songs, Sonnets, Ballads & Bagatelles. Written by C. Dibdin, Jun |
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BEN BACKSTAY. |
 | Mirth and Metre |  |
BEN BACKSTAY.
Ben Backstay was our boatswain, a very merry boy,
For no one half so merrily cou'd pipe all hands, a hoy;
And when it chanc'd his summons we didn't well attend,
No lad than he more merrily could handle a rope's end.
With a chip, chow, fol.
For no one half so merrily cou'd pipe all hands, a hoy;
And when it chanc'd his summons we didn't well attend,
No lad than he more merrily could handle a rope's end.
With a chip, chow, fol.
216
While sailing once, our captain, who was a jolly dog,
One day he gave to ev'ry mess a double share of grog;
Ben Backstay he got tipsy, all to his heart's content,
And, being half seas over, why overboard he went.
With a chip, &c.
One day he gave to ev'ry mess a double share of grog;
Ben Backstay he got tipsy, all to his heart's content,
And, being half seas over, why overboard he went.
With a chip, &c.
A shark was on the starboard—sharks don't for manners stand—
But grapple all that they come near, just like your sharks on land;
We threw out Ben some tackling, of saving him in hopes,
But the shark had bit his head off, so he could not see the rope.
With a chip, &c.
But grapple all that they come near, just like your sharks on land;
We threw out Ben some tackling, of saving him in hopes,
But the shark had bit his head off, so he could not see the rope.
With a chip, &c.
Without a head his ghost appear'd, all on the briny lake,
He pip'd all hands a hoy, and cried, “lads, warning by me take,
By drinking grog I lost my life, so lest my fate you meet,
Why, never mix your liquor, lads, but always drink it neat.
With a chip, &c.
He pip'd all hands a hoy, and cried, “lads, warning by me take,
By drinking grog I lost my life, so lest my fate you meet,
Why, never mix your liquor, lads, but always drink it neat.
With a chip, &c.
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