Training programme.

[Farmer John]

I have just dug out and old LP "Blow Boys Blow" A L LLoyd and Ewan McColl. This song really tickled me I had forgotten it.

Oh, as I was a-walkin' down London Road, I come to Paddy West's house,
He gave me a feed of American hash and he called it Liverpool scouse.
He said, “There's a ship that's wantin' hands, and on her you quickly sign.
The mate is a bastard, the bosun's worse, but she will suit you fine.”

Chorus (after each verse):
Take off your dungaree jackets and give yourselves a rest,
And we'll think on them cold nor'westers that we had at Paddy West's.

Well, when I'd had a feed, my boys, the wind began to blow;
He sent me up in the attic, the main-royal for to stow.
But when I got up in the attic, no main-royal could I find,
So I turned around to the window and I furled the window blind.

Now Paddy he piped all hands on deck, their stations for to man.
His wife stood in the doorway with a bucket in her hand;
And Paddy sings out, “Now let 'er rip!” and she flung the water our way,
Sayin', “Clew up your fore t'gan'sl, boys, she's takin' in the spray!”

Now seein' we're off to the south'ard, boys, to Frisco we was bound,
Old Paddy he called for a length of rope and he laid it on the ground.
And we all stepped over and back again, and he says to me, “That's fine,
Now when they ask if you've been to sea you can say you've crossed the Line.”

“Now there's only one thing for you to do before you sail away,
That's to step around the table, where the bullock's horn do lay.
And when they ask you, ‘Were you ever at sea?’, you can say, ’Ten times 'round the Horn.’
And Bejesus, you're a sailor since the day that you was born.”

Last chorus:
Put on your dungaree jacket, and walk out lookin' your best,
And tell 'em you're an old sailor man that's come from Paddy West's.