Paddy West
As I was walkin' down London Road, I come to Paddy West's house,
He gave me a meal of American hash; and called it Liverpool scouse,
He said " There's a ship and she's wantin' hands, and on her you must sign.
The mate's a bastard, the captain's worse, but she will suit you fine."
Chorus:
Take off yer dungaree jacket
And give yerself a rest!
And just think of those cold nor'westers that blow
In the house of Paddy West.
When the meals were over, boys, the wind began to blow.
Paddy sent me to the attic, the main-royal for to stow,
But when I got to the attic, no main-royal could I find,
So I turned myself 'round to the window, and I furled the window blind.
Chorus
Now Paddy he pipes all hands on deck, their stations for to man.
His wife she stood in the doorway, a bucket in her hand;
And Paddy he cries, "Now let 'er rip!" and she throws the water our way,
Cryin' "Clew in the fore t'gan'sl, boys, she's takin on the spray!"
Chorus
They say we're off for the south'ard, to Frisco we are bound;
Paddy he takes down a length of rope, and he lays it on the ground,
We all steps over, and back again, and he says to me "Well that's fine,
And if ever they ask if you've been to sea you can say, 'I crossed the line!' "
Chorus
"There's just one more thing you'll have to do before you sail away,
That's to step around the table, where the bullock's horns do lay
And if ever they ask if you've been to sea, you can say 'Three times 'round the Horn!
And be Jesus, but I'm an old sailor man from the day that I was born.' "
Final Chorus:
Put on yer dungaree jacket,
And walk out lookin' yer best,
And tell 'em that you're an old sailor man
From the house of Paddy West.
(other verses)
To every two men that graduates, I'll give one outfit free,
For two good men on watch at once, ye never need to see,
Oilskins, me boys, ye'll never want, carpet slippers made of felt,
I'll dish out to the pair o' you, and a rope yarn for a belt.
Paddy says "Now pay attention, these lessons you will learn.
The starboard is where the ship she points, the right is called the stern,
So look ye aft, to yer starboard port and you will find northwest."
And that's the way they teach you at the school of Paddy West.
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