Sea Shanties an' Drinkin' Songs

An aspect of the manly arts thats sadly being lost, is the art of song. Countless great old songs exist in lore... but how many of you know them?

How many of you know the words to even one good ol' drinkin' song? And no... 99 bottles of beer doesnt' count.

In Heaven There is no Beer?

Spanish Ladies?

The Banks of Newfoundland?

Show Me The Way to Go Home?

I didn't think so... I am depressed. So lets get on with it shall we? We'll start with Spanish Ladies... because when it comes to shanties... its about my favorite. It pains me to say so, but most of you have at least heard it... as its the song that the withered ol' shark hunter sang in the original Jaws.

Farewell and adieu unto you Spanish ladies,
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain;
For we've received orders for to sail for old England,
And perhaps never more we shall see you again.

Chorus:
We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,
We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas,
Until we strike soundings in the Channel of old England,
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues.

Then we hove our ship to the wind at sou'-west, my boys
We hove our ship to our soundings for to see;
So we rounded and sounded, and got forty-five fathoms,
We squared our main yard, up channel steered we.

Chorus:

Now the first land we made it is called the Deadman,
Then Ram Head off Plymouth, Start, Portland and Wight;
We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlee and Dungeness,
Until we came abreast of the South Foreland Light.

Chorus:
Then the signal was made for the grand fleet for to anchor,
All in the downs that night for to meet;
Then it's stand by your stoppers, see clear your shank-painters,
Haul all your clew garnets, stick out tacks and sheets.

Chorus:
Now let every man toss off a full bumper,
And let every man toss off a full bowl;
And we'll drink and be merry and drown melancholy,
Singing, here's a good health to all true-hearted souls.

Chorus:

Now... rest assured there will be drinkin' songs this Friday... Should make for a fun post at least.