Charlie Ipcar
Richmond, Maine |
Chorus:
Bound away! (bound away!)
Through the ice, sleet and snow
She's a Liverpool packet,
Oh, Lord, let 'er go!
There's a three-skys'l-yarder with her hatches battened down,
The grey skies above her, and the Mersey running brown,
She's anchored in the river, the tug's up a-head;
The chanteyman's singing would waken the dead – (CHO)
Hear the windlass a-clanking as the mate shouts, "Heave away!
Heave a pawl an' lift 'er or they'll be hell to pay!"
"Lower Blue Peter!" The anchor's off the mud;
There's cheering, there's laughter, and the tide's at full flood. (CHO)
"Loose tops'ls!" he shouts; "Haul away, stamp an' go!"
And we haul away together in the rising sun's glow;
Her lofty spars shine through the smoke blowing past;
"Up aloft!" shouts the skipper, and we race up the masts. (CHO)
We're out on the footropes, we're casting loose sail;
The pilot shakes hands, clambers over the rail;
"Haul in the hawser!" Just see her sails draw;
Her white wake trails behind, she's running from shore! (CHO)
There's a three-skys'l-yarder with her hatches battened down;
The grey skies above her, and the Mersey running brown;
There's a three-skys'l-yarder, with her holds jammed full;
Hear the cheer from the pier for the pride o' Liverpool! (CHO)(2X)
(Based on poem by Bill Adams from Wind In The Topsails,
edited by Bill Adams, published by George G. Harrap & Co.,
London, UK, © 1931, pp. 76-77.
Adapted for singing by Charlie Ipcar, © 2007.
Tune after traditional Liverpool Packet.)
|