Saturday Night at Sea
A sailor loves a gallant ship
And shipmates bold and free,
And ever welcomes, with delight,
Saturday night at sea.
Saturday night at sea, my boys,
Saturday night at sea,
Let every gal and sailor sing,
"Saturday night at sea."
One hour each week was snatched from care,
As through the world we roam,
To think of dear friends far away
And all the joys at home.
Saturday night at sea, my boys,
Saturday night at sea,
Let winds blow high or low we'll sing,
"Saturday night at sea."
We'll think of those bright beings
Who bedeck with joys our lives.
And raise to heaven a prayer to bless
Our sweethearts and our wives.
Saturday night at sea, my boys,
Saturday night at sea,
In storm or calm through life we'll sing,
"Saturday night at sea."
From Paul Clayton, Whaling and Sailing Songs (Tradition, 1956;
reissued by Legacy-International as CD)
Clayton found this forebitter in the log of The Ship Samuel
Robertson dated 6/20/1845. The tune is reminiscent of the hoe-down
piece "Bile them Cabbage Down." AJS
AJS
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!