Jumping on the Bandwagon

Pirates are hot...wait, I don't mean the "PILF" sense. I mean in the marketing sense. Although, I wouldn't mind finding me a buxom piratey wench. But Pirate Day, I don't know. I was in KMART today and a woman was buying costume pieces to dress up as a pirate at work on Friday. Sometimes I think excessive fake holidays are the opiate of the masses.

So go ahead and take a hit....Aaarrrrrggggg, ye land-lubbers.

This sea shanty was first brought to my attention when actor Robert Shaw sang a variation of it the movie, Jaws. Here is one American version:

Farewell and adieu to you Spanish ladies

Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain

For we've received orders to sail from New England

And we hope in a short time to see you again

Chorus:We'll rant and we'll roar like true Yankee Whalermen

We'll rant and we'll roar on deck and below

Until we sight Gayhead off old Martha's Vineyard

And straight up the channel to New Bedford we'll go.

We hove our our ship to with the wind from the sou'west, boys.

We hove our our ship to deep soundings to take

'Twas 45 fathoms with light sandy bottom

We squared our main yard and up channel did make.

Chorus

I went to a dance one night in Tombaz.

There were plenty of girls there as fine as you wish.

There was one pretty maiden a chewin' tobacco

Just like a young kitten a chewin' fresh fish.

Chorus

Then the signal was sent for the grand ship to anchor

And all in the downs that night for to lie

Let go your shank painter, let go your cat stopper

Haul up your clew garnets, let tacks and sheets fly.