Hey! Walk her round
Heave, ah heave her short again!
Over, snatch her over there
And hold her on the pawl
Loose all sail
Brace your yards aback and full
Ready jib to pay her off
And heave short all!
Well, ah fare you well
We can stay no more with you my love
So down, set down your liquor
And your girl from off your knee
For the wind has come to say
"You must take me while you may
If you'd go to Mother Carey
Oh we're bound to Mother Carey
Oh we're bound to Mother Carey
Where she feeds her chicks at sea!"
Hey! Walk her round
Break, ah break it out o' that!
Break our starboard bower out
Apeak, awash and clear
Port—port she casts
With the harbour-roil beneath her foot
And that's the last o' bottom
We shall see this year!
Well, ah fare you well
For we've got to take her out again
Take her out in ballast
Riding light and cargo-free
And it's time to clear and quit
When the hawser grips the bitt
So we'll pay you with the foresheet
And a promise from the sea!
Hey! Tally on
Aft and walk away with her!
Handsome to the cathead, now
O tally on the fall!
Stop, seize and fish
And easy on the davit-guy
Up, well up the fluke of her
And inboard haul!
Well, ah fare you well
For the Channel winds took hold of us
Choking down our voices
As we snatch the gaskets free
And it's blowing up for night
And she's dropping Light on Light
And she's snorting under bonnets
For a breath of open sea
Wheel, full and by
But she'll smell her road alone to-night
Sick she is and harbour-sick
O sick to clear the land
Roll down to Brest
With the old Red Ensign over us
Carry on and thrash her out
With all she'll stand!
Well, ah fare you well
And it's Ushant gives the door to us
Whirling like a windmill
Through the dirty scus to lee
Till the last flicker goes
From the tumbling water-rows
And we're off to Mother Carey
Oh we're bound for Mother Carey
Oh we're bound for Mother Carey
Where she feeds her chicks at sea!