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THE BIG BLACK TRAWLER

Alfred Noyes · 1922

The very best ship that ever I knew,

--_Ah-way O, to me O_--

Was a big black trawler with a deep-sea crew--

_Sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run._

 

There was one old devil with a broken nose

--_Ah-way O, to me O_--

He was four score years, as I suppose--

_But, sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run._

 

We was wrecked last March, in a Polar storm

--_Ah-way O, to me O_--

And we asked the old cripple if his feet was warm--

_Sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run._

 

And the old, old devil (he was ninety at the most)

--_Ah-way O, to me O_--

Roars, "Ay, warm as a lickle piece of toast"--

_So sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run._

 

"For I soaked my sea-boots and my dungarees

--_Ah-way O, to me O_--

In the good salt water that the Lord don't freeze"--

_Oh, sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run._