| The Ballad of Matelotage and Mutiny |
Now Jack and Tom they sailed out
On the Molly Mae McPhee,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Fresh as the day they left their play
To join the King's Navy.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
They sailed out north, south, east and west,
They sailed from sea to sea.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Sailed off into the sailor's life
That's lonely as can be.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And eyes blue as the sea,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And Tom was bless'd with lips as red
As the cherries on the tree.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
In six long weeks 'twas rare they'd speak,
Their hands upon the rope,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
But lips would lick and eyes they'd flick
In a thirst as dry as hope.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And then a dozen more,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
They'd heave and sweat, and then to bed
They'd crawl away to snore
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
But then one day, a storm it came
And the bosun rang his bell.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The sails came down, and men did drown,
In a night as dark as hell.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Was adrift upon the waves,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And them were left to mourn the dead
Gave thanks that they were saved.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
But these two lads were doubly glad,
Each other the first to see,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
They raised their heads and both o' them said,
Thank God for sparing thee.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
With his compass and his chart.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
A cruel and angry man he was
With a Bible for his heart:
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Let prayers be said for all the dead
But there's cargo in the hold.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
We've snout to ship, a purse to tip,
And a merchant's heart is cold.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The sea was e'er still.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
For ten long days the ship it lay;
The sails they would not fill.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The sun it set, the sun it rose,
The sun beat in the sky.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The lads just lazed and passed the days
With cards or wi' the die.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Two lads will play alone,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And there's many a mate who's tried his hand
On tackle that's not his own.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
There's many a mate has lost his head
From the gambling or the rum,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And many a mate who's given his
For a cabin boy's sweet plum.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
One evenin' when he sees:
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Tom he sits, his tongue twixt lips,
With ropes upon his knees.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The ropes are frayed, of knots he's made
A strange and wond'rous art;
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
So smart the knots his hands have wrought,
They can't be teased apart.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
By a smile on lips so sly,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And there's many a Tom whose been undone
By the wink of a bright blue eye.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
O, what do ye call those knots? says Jack.
Tis matelotage, says he.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Then take my hand if ye'll have a man,
And it's matelotage'd we'll be!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
In a matelotage of limbs,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
As they came together, skin to skin,
Then he again, then him.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Whose arm was this, whose leg was that,
Whose hand upon whose cock?
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
At break of day abed they lay,
Their tongues and pricks still locked.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The ship went on its way.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Our lusty boys, they heave in joy,
By night and by the day.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Heave, me hearties, hold it fast,
Put sweat upon yer backs!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Heave, me hearties, hold it fast,
Ye Toms and all ye Jacks!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
We've come to Kingston Town.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
'Tis time to spend yer monies,
Every guinea, every crown.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Rum and whores will all be yours,
Yer purses are too full.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
So spend it now before ye drown,
Ye know the sea is cruel.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Another plan had they.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
No girls and grog for these sea dogs
To fritter away their pay.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Down to the gunsmith off they went,
Their wages joined as one,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And they bought a brace of pistols there,
For each of them a gun.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
With aim as tight and true,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
As true as the hearts would never part
From the lover they would woo,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Of polished wood and polished steel
And balanced in the grip,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And each engraved with his lover's name
To wear upon his hip.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
A-pointed at their jewels,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And many a lass who saw them pass
Would swear that they were fools.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
But Jack he scoffs, may I blow 'em off
If ever I'm false to thee.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
An' if mine don't hold ye true, says Tom,
They're bugger all use to me.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
On the Molly Mae McPhee,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Fresh as the day they left their play
To join the King's Navy.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
They sailed out north, south, east, and west,
They sailed from sea to sea,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Sailed off into the sailor's life
That's jolly as can be.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And eyes blue as the sea,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And Jack was bless'd by lips as red
As the cherries on the tree.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And ne'er a twain so fast remained
Whene'er the sea would crash,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
For ne'er a two were bound so true
In the knots of matelotage.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
As close as close can be,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And many a mate they spied the lads
With lust and jealousy.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
A hundred leagues, a hundred leagues,
A hundred more from land,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
On a sea that's bare of the maidens fair,
There's only what's at hand.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
A swell to toss the ship,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And mate to mate, the pacts were laid,
An oath on every lip.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Ye'll not be thrown to Davy Jones,
Not lost upon the sea,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
If ye matelotage! matelotage!
Matelotage with me!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
As the Molly Mae McPhee;
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
More salt there was upon the deck
Than in the deep blue sea.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
A ship of crusty seamen
Making sweat enough to swim.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
A ship of lusty lovers
Tied in knots of naked limbs.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
With a Bible for his heart
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Knew naught of what his crewmen did
Beneath the shining stars,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Until one night, he saw a sight
That stripped his anger bare—
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
'Twas Tom with Jack upon his back,
His legs up in the air
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Ye sodomites, he cursed,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Ye godless beasts of buggery,
Who slake a sinful thirst!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Ye shame the ship, ye shame us all,
In the name of God above!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Says Jack, My shame, by any name
Of God is known as love.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
'Gainst matelotage, ye rant,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
But I swear by Davy Jones, we'll not
Be bound by pious cant.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Our love is true as the sea is blue,
And we'll raise our standard here,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And curse the name of a God of shame,
Who'd curse a love that's queer.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Together to yer fate,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Keelhauled beneath the hull,
The briny waters for a grave!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Ye naked wretches, both of ye,
Will meet it in yer sin.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The barnacles will strip the filth,
A-scouring naked skin.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Afeart of his dread ire,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Till the captain lashed them into work,
His tongue a whip of fire:
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Now tie them tight, and tighter still,
With plenty of rope to reel,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And hie them up and lo'er them down
And haul them round the keel!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
As the mates began the task.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The men held back in binding Jack,
And Tom they loosely lashed.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
But the captain swore they'd all be sore,
The Cat for he who slacked,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
So into the briny sea they gave
Two lads called Tom and Jack.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
T' the captain cried, Avast!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Now bring 'em ho, what's left to show,
I'll wager nought did last.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
So heaved the crew, and up they drew,
Till the horror sent them back,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
For there on the deck was an awful wreck
That might be Tom or Jack.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Nor a hair left on his head,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
No man aboard could see the lad
And be sure he wasn't dead.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
With lips as red as the blood, 'tis said,
And his eyes dark as the sea,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
No man aboard could say for sure
Which one of the two was he.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
As a terrible sound was heard,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
A horrible moan, an awful groan,
And then the lad he stirred.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
He tore off the ropes that bound no more
And stood and raised his head,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And he pointed a claw at the captain cruel
And here are the words he said:
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Holds sway upon the waves;
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The sea belongs to Davy Jones
Wi' the lives he claims or saves.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
So we made Him a pact to pay Him back
Wi' the soul of who survived,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The body to hold his lover's soul,
The soul of the one who died.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
In the flesh of who he loved.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
'Tis a knot will never be broke by ye,
By man or God above.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
I swear on the grave of he who's saved,
The knot that's in my heart,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The price ye'll pay, ye'll rue the day,
This Mutiny you did start.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
This fearful thing to see.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
This crime ye've done is sin on sin,
Ye've sold yer soul, said he.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
'Tis a traitor to God, to God, you are,
So a Judas's death for ye.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Now string him high to kiss the sky
Wi' the yardarm for his tree.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Their courage it had fled.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Till he tied a loop, for his own noose,
And slipped it o'er his head.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Heave-ho, he cries, for all yer lives,
Yer captain's word obey.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Be not afear'd, for all it's queer,
I'll not be dying today.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
As the poor lad he was hung,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
But he gave a grin like bloody sin
And smiled there as he swung.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
For three long days the lad he sways,
But ne'er will he die.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
For three long nights, a dreadful sight,
The vengeance in his eye.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The mates began to sigh.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
O, what'll we do with this captain cruel?
Their mutinous hearts replied.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
So by the light of a moon as white
As the surf upon the reef,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
They lo'ered him down, and gathered round,
And raised him to his feet.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
As his gaze cut to the quick.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
He gripped the noose and drew it loose
And he gave his lips a lick.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
His voice was low. Now go below,
Bring me the guns, says he,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
A pistol for each lover,
And we'll have us a mutiny.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Retiring to his rest.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The door it burst, he spit a curse,
Then terror struck his breast.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
For in he strides, the lad who died,
And firm and true he stands,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
With an eye as cold as a merchant's gold
And a pistol in each hand.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The strangest thing was seen.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The names upon the pistols
In his hand they seemed to gleam.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
No longer Tom, no longer Jack,
As everyone there could see,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
One carried the name of Matelotage,
The other of Mutiny!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
In hell's eternal flame.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
If ye be man then ye be damned,
Whate'er be yer name.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The lad he grins his smile of sin,
I'll tell you this, says he,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
'Tis Matelotage for whom ye die,
'Tis Mutiny who kills ye.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The captain in his heart.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
He put a hole right through his soul,
As 'twere a poison dart.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Then love it swept and the captain wept,
His heart it sorely bled.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Wi' the pistol in his left, our lad
Then shot the captain dead!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Now deals out only love,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
With every shot a binding knot,
To make yer heart a dove.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
But the other gun, alike this one,
Will also take yer breath;
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
For the gun of Mutiny, ye see,
Will deal ye out yer death.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
The Molly Mae MacPhee.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
He stripped the hold, and shared the gold,
Did Captain Mutiny.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
A flag of black for Tom and Jack,
A pirate flag he raised,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
And the cruel still run from his two guns
But ne'er can get away.
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Ye sodomites, to me!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
Ye godless beasts of buggery,
Arise with Mutiny!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
We'll plunder from the Spanish Main
To the coast of Barbary,
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
For the pirate gods of Matelotage
And his lover, Mutiny!
Cry, haul! Aye! A-diddle-aye-dee!
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content Copyright © 2006, Hal Duncan—All Rights Reserved
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