Barrett's Australia (or something)
Yesterday for a while I had "South Australia" running through my head, and then it began to have the lyrics of "Barrett's Privateers." So (while I wait for some virus scans to finish) here you may have the whole thing. "Barrett's Privateers" is by Stan Rogers, "South Australia" is traditional (as far as I know), and the mixture is all mine.
Barrett's Australia, to the tune of South Australia
O the year was 1778
Heave away, haul away
A letter of marque came from the king
And we're bound for South Australia
Chorus:
Haul away, you rolling kings
Heave away, haul away
Haul away you'll hear me saying
And we're bound for South Australia
2. O Elcid Barrett cried the town
Heave away, haul away
For twenty brave men all fishermen who
Would make for him the Antelope's crew
(chorus)
3. The Antelope sloop was a sickening site
Heave away, haul away
She'd list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
(chorus)
4. On the King's birthday we put to sea
Heave away, haul away
Ninety-one days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way
(chorus)
5. On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again
Heave away, haul away
When a great big Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight
(chorus)
6. The Yankee lay low down with gold
Heave away, haul away
She was broad and fat and loose in stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
(chorus)
7. Then at length she stood two cables away
Heave away, haul away
Our cracked four-pounders made awful din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
(chorus)
8. The Antelope shook and pitched on her side
Heave away, haul away
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the main truck carried off both me legs
(chorus)
9. Now here I lay in my twenty-third year
Heave away, haul away
It's been six years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
Final chorus:
Haul away, you rolling kings
Heave away, haul away
Haul away you'll hear me saying
And we're bound for South Austraaaaal-yaaaaaaa
Y'know, I think I'm glad we dance the original South Australia. This version has far too many verses!
Barrett's Australia, to the tune of South Australia
O the year was 1778
Heave away, haul away
A letter of marque came from the king
And we're bound for South Australia
Chorus:
Haul away, you rolling kings
Heave away, haul away
Haul away you'll hear me saying
And we're bound for South Australia
2. O Elcid Barrett cried the town
Heave away, haul away
For twenty brave men all fishermen who
Would make for him the Antelope's crew
(chorus)
3. The Antelope sloop was a sickening site
Heave away, haul away
She'd list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
(chorus)
4. On the King's birthday we put to sea
Heave away, haul away
Ninety-one days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way
(chorus)
5. On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again
Heave away, haul away
When a great big Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight
(chorus)
6. The Yankee lay low down with gold
Heave away, haul away
She was broad and fat and loose in stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
(chorus)
7. Then at length she stood two cables away
Heave away, haul away
Our cracked four-pounders made awful din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
(chorus)
8. The Antelope shook and pitched on her side
Heave away, haul away
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the main truck carried off both me legs
(chorus)
9. Now here I lay in my twenty-third year
Heave away, haul away
It's been six years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
Final chorus:
Haul away, you rolling kings
Heave away, haul away
Haul away you'll hear me saying
And we're bound for South Austraaaaal-yaaaaaaa
Y'know, I think I'm glad we dance the original South Australia. This version has far too many verses!