Head the ship for England !
Shake out every sail !
Blithe leap the billows,
Merry sings the gale.
Captain, work the reck'ning ;
How many knots a day ? -
Round the world and home again,
That's the sailor's way !
We've traded with the Yankees,
Brazilians, and Chinese ;
We've laugh'd with dusky beauties
In shade of tall palm trees ;
Across the Line and Gulf-stream -
Round by Table Bay -
Everywhere and home again,
That's the sailor's way !
Nightly stands the North Star
Higher on our bow ;
Straight we run for England ;
Our thoughts are in it now.
Jolly time with friends ashore,
When we've drawn our pay ! -
All about and home again,
That's the sailor's way !
Tom will to his parents,
Jack will to his dear,
Joe to wife and children,
Bob to pipes and beer ;
Dicky to the dancing-room,
To hear the fiddles play ; -
Round the world and home again,
That's the sailor's way !
William Allingham
(I love that Gene Wilder quotes this in the old Willy Wonka.)
