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Well, Johnny O'Rourke he lived all alone,
He didn't have a wife, he was never at home;
Sure Johnny was only skin on the bones,
Johnny from down in the harbour.
Well, Johnny he slept in a big feather bed,
With a big fluffy pillow under his head;
And when he awoke every morning he said,
Well, jumpins! I slept in again.
Oh, Johnny, get up in the morning on time,
You're never ahead, you're always behind;
There's plenty of fish when the weather is fine,
Johnny get up in the morning.
Well, Johnny would walk to the wharf at nine,
And he'd look to the water and he'd pray for a sign;
But all of the others had left him behind,
'Cause Johnny had slept in again.
Well, he'd go to the store and he'd take up his post,
He'd talk of the weather, the boys down the coast;
And later that day to the Queen he would toast,
Oh, Johnny from down in the harbour.
Oh, Johnny, get up in the morning on time,
You're never ahead, you're always behind;
There's plenty of fish when the weather is fine,
Johnny get up in the morning.
Johnny grew tired of the single life,
So he quickly went out and got him a wife;
Now he sleeps all day and he plays all night,
Johnny from down in the harbour.
But his darlin' wife had a mind of her own,
And she pointed her finger, said, "Listen, me son,"
It's been nearly a month and the honeymoon's gone,
And you better get out on the water." She said,
Oh, Johnny, get up in the morning on time,
You're never ahead, you're always behind;
There's plenty of fish when the weather is fine,
Johnny get up in the morning.
Well, Johnny O'Rourke couldn't take any more,
He was tired of being a hangashore;
He said, "My darlin' wife, you'll never be poor,
As long as you're married to Johnny."
It's been thirteen years and thirteen kids,
And Johnny no longer stays in the bed;
He's out on the water each morning instead,
'Cause Johnny gets up in the morning.
Oh, Johnny, gets up in the morning on time,
He's always ahead, he's never behind;
He catches his fish when the weather is fine,
Johnny gets up in the morning!
See more songs by The Sharecroppers.
From the Dictionary Of Newfoundland English:
Hangashore² - a man regarded as too lazy to fish; a worthless fellow, a sluggard; a rascal.
