The Cabin Boy

From dad and man?s society,
Whose worth I dare maintain,
I?ve brav?d the wind?s variety,
Upon the dangerous main;
Quite young, I?m drove about the ship,
Though I my time employ,
And I swear and tear, and smoke and joke,
And hand, reef, and steer, like an old heart of oak,
Although but a cabin boy.

I?ve a pretty lass, as young as I,
For whose sweet sake I roam,
Resolv?d right manfully to try,
To bear her riches home;
While up I mount the top or yard,
And cannons loud annoy,
The whizzing shot I ne?er regard,
But swear and tear, and smoke and joke,
And stand to my gun like an old heart of oak,
Although but a cabin boy.

Should this news reach home (to shock her)
That, alack! I?m loft at sea,
Why sure in Davy?s locker,
There?s room enough for me:
But if successsful little Ben,
Steers homeward for his joy,
With a cargo of shiners, messmates then
I?ll drink and sing, and smoke and joke,
And stick to my Sail like an old heart of oak,
Although but a cabin boy.

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