Go to Sea Once More
When first I landed in Liverpool, I went upon the spree
My hard-earned cash, I spent it fast, got drunk as drunk could be,
And when me money was all gone, 'twas then I wanted more,
But a man must be blind for to make up his mind to go to sea once more.
cho: Once more, once more, to go to sea once more
But a man must be blind for to make up his mind,
To go to sea once more. (LAST 2 LINES OF CHORUS ECHO VERSE)
That night I slept with Angeline, I was too drunk to roll in bed.
My clothes was new, my money, too, and next morning with them she'd fled,
And as I roamed the strettrs around, them whores they all did roar,
"There goes Jack Ratcliffe, poor sailor boy, who must go to sea once more.
cho:
Now as I was rollin' down the street, I met with Rapper Brown.
I asked him then to take me in, but he lokked at me with a frown.
Says he, "Last time ye was paid off, with me ye chaulked no score,
But I'll give ye a chance and I'll take your advance, and I'll send ye to
sea once more.
cho:
He shipped me aboards of a whalin' ship bound for them Arctic seas
Where there's ice and snow and the cold winds blow, why, Jamaica rum would
freeze;
And worse to bear I'd no hard-weather gear, an' I'd spent all my money
ashore,
Ah, 'twas then that I wished that I was dead, and could go to sea no more.
cho:
Sometimes we're catchin' whales, me boys, some days we're catchin' none.
With a twenty-foot oar stuck in your hand you row the whole day long.
And when the shades of night come on, and you rest on your weary oar,
Oh, your back's so weak you could never seek a berth at sea once more.
cho:
Come all you bold sea-faring men, and listen to my song
When you come off of them damn long trips, I'd have you not go wrong;
Take my advice, drink no strong drink and don't go sleepin' with no whore,
But get married, lads, and spend all night in, and go to sea no more!
Note: About half the published versions don't use a chorus.
Recorded by Killen, 50 South to 50 South
DT #702
Laws D7
RG
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!