Bravado must have played an important part in the
lives of the old square-rigger sailors. They had to face harsh realities
with real courage, but when they made up songs, the situations were
often idealized.
lives of the old square-rigger sailors. They had to face harsh realities
with real courage, but when they made up songs, the situations were
often idealized.
In this chantey the sailors’ prowess with women in various ports, is
conveniently overshadowed by their love of freedom and the sea.
Lyrics:
[D] Oh I’m a rake and rambling sailor lad
[G] And I’m newly home from the port of [A] Trinidad
[D] With my heart still tingling from the deep salt sea
And our [G] good ship [A] longing to be [D] free
[G] And I’m newly home from the port of [A] Trinidad
[D] With my heart still tingling from the deep salt sea
And our [G] good ship [A] longing to be [D] free
There were three girls in jolly Portsmouth town
And they had a reputation of renown
And they tried to keep us clinging till the wedding bells were ringing
But we left ’em and we sailed for the sea
[ F#7] Oh [G] honey, I’ve got [E7] pockets full of [A] money
And we’ll [D] rant [F#m] and [Bm] roar [A] till we [G] reach our [F#m] homeland [A] shore
[D] With my heart still tingling from the deep salt sea
And Our [G] good ship [A] longing to be free
� 1998 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn