A Jolly Sailor's True Description of a Man of War

WHEN first on board a Man of War,
We go by press or enter,
And along-side of our ship we come,
We boldly did her venture.
Such twigging then at we fresh men:
There clever fellows some say;
While the buffers stand with their rattans,
Crying keep down out of the gangway.

Then aft upon the quarter deck.
We go it being common;
Our officers examine us, to know
Who are the seamen;
There's some are seamen, some are freemen,
Some one thimg, some another:
Then we down below on the main-deck go,
Boys after one another.

Then up again upon the deck,
So briskly boys we bundle;
Since we have well secured our pack,
We have no cause to grumble.
Then we clap on what we have upon,
Some piping, other's singing:
There's hoist away, likewise belay,
Thus we make a beginning.

The boatswain and his mates are piping,
Crying, men have a rally:
And often forward they are piking,
To have a rout in the galley.
What are you about? away with us out,
To leave our victuals we abhor it;
With cuffs and knocks leave kettles and pots
And the Devil cuff them for it.

There are snotty boys of midshipmen,
Han't yet done shitting yellow;
As to their age some hardly ten,
Strike many a brave fellow.
Who dare not prate at any rate,
Nor seem in the reast to mumble,
They'll strap you still think what you will,
It is but a folly to grumble.

Heave, and in sight men heave away
From forward the boatswain is calling
Heave a turn or two without delay;
Stand by the capstan for pealing.
Then one and all to the cart do fall;
We haul both strong and able;
'Till presently from forward they cry,
Below, stick out the cable.

When once our ship it is unmor'd,
Our swelling sails so neatly,
With foretack and main-tack also,
Our sheets haul'd after compleatly.
Then away we sail with a fresh gale,
On a voyage or on a station,
Like English hearts we'll play our parts,
In defence of the Btitish nation.

The best cry that we like to hear,
On board, as I'm a sinner,
Is when from the quarter-deck they call
To the boatswain to pipe to dinner.
Such crowding then among the men,
Some grumble, others jangle:
You're nobody there without you swear,
And boldly stand the wrangle.

When stormy winds begin to blow,
Our ship is in great motion.
To carry our victuals safe down below,
It requires a good motion.
We often fall down the hatch-way with all,
From the top to the bottom lie sprawling;
Such laughing then among the men,
And loudly the butcher calling.

Now to conclude and make and end,
In a full flowing brimmer,
Let everyone drink to his friend,
The bowl it seems to look thinner.
We'll fill it again like sons of men,
And drink bad luck to the purser,
He cheat us with ease of our oatmeal & pease,
Such rogues there can't be worser.