 | Sea Songs |  |
25
SO I GO, MY LADS, FOR PLUCK.
Some are wishing for the rhino;
Some may long for love or luck;
But whatever may be mine—Oh,
Still mine be lots of pluck!
With that it's been plain sailing
Ever since the world began,
For, with pluck, you can't be failing;
Fortune loves to help a man;
Why, without pluck, you're a ninny,
However good's your luck;
Though I'm without a guinea,
I can laugh while I have pluck.
Some may long for love or luck;
But whatever may be mine—Oh,
Still mine be lots of pluck!
With that it's been plain sailing
Ever since the world began,
For, with pluck, you can't be failing;
Fortune loves to help a man;
Why, without pluck, you're a ninny,
However good's your luck;
Though I'm without a guinea,
I can laugh while I have pluck.
With it, at fear, you're chaffing;
Though they may frighten some,
You meet all dangers laughing,
However thick they come;
If fortune choose to trip you,
In any way she can,
If she of all else strip you,
She leaves you still a man;
Your heart she is but trying;
You'll soon have better luck;
Fight on, on that relying;
Life's prizes fall to pluck.
Though they may frighten some,
You meet all dangers laughing,
However thick they come;
26
In any way she can,
If she of all else strip you,
She leaves you still a man;
Your heart she is but trying;
You'll soon have better luck;
Fight on, on that relying;
Life's prizes fall to pluck.
Without it, man's a looby,
Unfit, through storms, to steer;
A shadow shakes the booby;
He can't feel joy, for fear;
His tongue don't dare to speak out,
As a plucky fellow's can;
Some shuffle it will squeak out,
That wouldn't suit a man;
Truth's plume and the white feather
Never in one cap are stuck;
Lies and fears still live together,
So I go for truth and pluck.
Unfit, through storms, to steer;
A shadow shakes the booby;
He can't feel joy, for fear;
His tongue don't dare to speak out,
As a plucky fellow's can;
Some shuffle it will squeak out,
That wouldn't suit a man;
Truth's plume and the white feather
Never in one cap are stuck;
Lies and fears still live together,
So I go for truth and pluck.
And if, for landsmen, meekness,
And women's nerves won't do,
My lads, it's certain, weakness,
And whining won't suit you;
To live our life, you're needing
To get all the heart you can;
Your real old bull-dog breeding
Must prove you all a man;
A sailor must, in danger
And fight, feel he's in luck,
To every fear a stranger,
So, lads, I go for pluck.
And women's nerves won't do,
My lads, it's certain, weakness,
And whining won't suit you;
27
To get all the heart you can;
Your real old bull-dog breeding
Must prove you all a man;
A sailor must, in danger
And fight, feel he's in luck,
To every fear a stranger,
So, lads, I go for pluck.
| Sea Songs | |