British Man-O'-War

It was down by Cults Garden for pleasure I did stray,
'Twas there I spied a comely maid talking to her sailor gay,
Saying, "Susie, my love Susie, I am going to leave the shore,
For to cross the briny ocean on a British man-o'-war."

Then Susie fell a weeping, these words I heard her say,
"You needn't be so foolish as to throw yourself away,
When at the age of twenty-one I will receive my store,
So change your inclination from a British man-o'-war."

"O, Susie, lovely Susie, the truth to you I'll tell,
The British flag is insulted and old England knows it well,
You may be crowned with laurels or some other jolly tar,
But I'll face the walls of China on a British man-o'-war."

"O, my love Willie, don't face those bold Chinese,
For they will prove so treacherous, as any Portuguese,
And by some sword or dagger you may receive a scar,
Jolly sailor, do not venture on a British man-o'-war."

"O Susie, lovely, Susie, the time has come at last,
For to go down to yonder pub and drink a parting glass,
My shipmates, they are waiting to row me from the shore,
For to cross the briny ocean on a British man-o'-war."

Willie took out his handkerchief, he tore it straight in two,
Saying, "Half of this I'll keep myself, and the other I'll give to you,
When bellows they surround me and the cannons loudly roar,
Then I'll fight for England's glory on a British man-o'-war."

A few more words were spoken and then they both shook hands,
The sailors gently manned their oars and quickly rowed from land,
And Willie waved his handkerchief till they were far from shore,
Saying, "Farewell, my lovely Susie, from a British man-o'-war."

####.... Author unknown. English traditional ....####

Collected from the singing of the Kenny Family from Kitchuses, NL. A variant was also collected by Ken Peacock and published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 1, p.181, by the National Museum of Canada (1965) Crown Copyrights Reserved.