Jolly Roving Tar


Ships may come and ships may go,
As long as the seas do roll,
But a sailor lad just like his dad,
He loves the flowing bowl,
A woman ashore, he does adore a girl
That's plump and round
When his money's all gone,
It's the same old song,
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!

(Chorus)
Come along come along, me jolly brave boys,
There's plenty more grog in the jar,
We'll plough the briney ocean line,
Like a jolly rovin' tar!

When Jack's ashore, he'll make his way
To some ol' boardin' house
He's welcomed in, with rum and gin
Likewise with pork and scouse
He'll spend and spend and ne'er offend,
Till he lies drunk on the ground,
When his money's all gone,
It's the same ol' song,
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!

(Chorus)

Then Jack will slip on board some ship,
Bound for India or Japan,
In Asia there, them ladies fair,
Love a sailor man,
He'll go ashore and he'll not scorn,
To buy some girl her gown,
When his money's all gone,
It's the same old song,
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!

(Chorus)

When Jack is worn and weatherbeat,
Too old to cruise about,
They'll let him stop in some rum shop,
Till eight bells calls him out,
He'll throw his hands high,
And loud he'll cry,
Thank God, I'm homeward bound!
When his money's all gone,
It's the same old song,
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!

(Chorus ×2)


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