The Old Grey

Verse 1
On the fourteenth of February we sailed from the land,
On the bold Princess Royal bound for Newfoundland.
We had forty-five seamen for a ship’s company,
And the wind from the East-ward to the West-ward blew we.
Verse 2
We had not been sailing past a day, two or three,
When a man from our masthead a strange sail did see.
She came bearing down on us with her topsails so high,
And under her mizen-peak black colors did fly.
Chorus
Go down to your grog, boys, go down every man!
Go down to your grog, boys, go down one and all.
For the wind is a-blowing and the sea’s running high,
And we’ve beat the bold pirate, let the colors all fly!
Verse 3
"Oh, haul down your colors!" our captain he cried,
"And back your maintopsail and heave your ship to!
For I have a letter to be carried home by you,
And it’s from a bold pirate that’s seeking for his due."
Verse 4
"I’ll back my maintopsail and heave my ship to,
But it’s only in some harbor and alongside of you.
And as for your letter, you may keep it in your hand,
For I’m the Princess Royal bound for Newfoundland."
Chorus
Go down to your grog, boys, go down every man!
Go down to your grog, boys, go down one and all.
For the wind is a-blowing and the sea’s running high,
And we’ve beat the bold pirate, let the colors all fly!
Verse 5
He chased us to windward through the long winter’s day,
He chased us to leeward, but he couldn't make us pay.
He fired a shot at us, but he did not prevail,
And the bold Princess Royal soon showed a clean tail.
Verse 6
Now when that we arrived in the port of St. John,
Our captain he told of the deed we had done.
We drank a health to our captain and all our ship’s crew,
And to the bold Princess Royal that brought us safe through.
Chorus (Final)
Go down to your grog, boys, go down every man!
Go down to your grog, boys, go down one and all.
For the wind is a-blowing and the sea’s running high,
And we’ve beat the bold pirate, let the colors all fly!

Traditional maritime sea shanty, baritone male vocal lead with chorus backing, rhythmic rowing tempo, acoustic folk, 18t