University of Virginia Library

Old Anchor Chanty

First Voice
With a long heavy heave, my very famous men. . . .
(Chorus. Bring home! heave and rally!)

Second Voice
And why do you, lad, look so pale? Is it for love, or lack of ale?

First Voice
All hands bear a hand that have a hand to len'—
And there never was a better haul than you gave then . . .
(Chorus. Bring home!)

First Voice
Heave hearty, my very famous men . . .
(Bring home! heave and rally!)

Second Voice
Curl and scud, rack and squall—sea-clouds you shall know them all . . .

First Voice
For we're bound for Valparaiso and round the Horn again
From Monte Desolado to the parish of Big Ben! . . .
(Bring home!)

First Voice
Heave hearty, my very famous men . . .
(Bring home! heave and rally!)

Second Voice
Bold through all or scuppers under, when shall we be back, I wonder?

First Voice
From the green and chancy water we shall all come back again
To the Lizard and the ladies—but who can say for when? . . .
(Bring home!)

First Voice
Heave and she's a-trip, my very famous men . . .
(Bring home! heave and rally!)

Second Voice
When your fair lass says farewell to you a fair wind I will sell to you . . .

First Voice
You may sell your soul's salvation, but I'll bet you two-pound-ten
She's a-tripping on the ribs of the devil in his den. . . .
(Bring home!)

First Voice
Heave and she's a-peak, my very famous men . . .
(Bring home! heave and rally!)

Second Voice
You shall tread, for one cruzado, Fiddler's Green in El Dorado . . .

First Voice
Why, I've seen less lucky fellows pay for liquor with doubloons
And for 'baccy with ozellas, gold mohurs, and ducatoons! . . .
(Bring home!)

First Voice
Heave and a-weigh, my very famous men . . .
(Bring home! heave and rally!)

Second Voice
And drop her next in heat or cold, the flukes of England they shall hold! . . .

First Voice
Ring and shank, stock and fluke, she's coming into ken—
Give a long and heavy heave, she's a-coming into ken. . . .
(Bring home!)

First Voice
Heave and in sight, my very famous men . . .
(Bring home! heave and rally!)

Second Voice
With her shells and tangle dripping she's a beauty we are shipping . . .

First Voice
And she likes a bed in harbour like a decent citizen,
But her fancy for a hammock on the deep sea comes again. . . .
(Bring home!)

First Voice
Heave and she's a-wash, my very famous men . . .
(Bring home! heave and rally!)

Second Voice
O never stop to write the news that we are off upon a cruise . . .

First Voice
For the Gulf of Californy's got a roller now and then,
But it's better to be sailing than a-sucking of a pen. . . .
(Bring home!)