Shanty Net

Written by Sam Leary (c) 2008 Sailing on back to the colonies On a fine shapely vessel called Mae So heave away boys and drink your dark rum We’re on our way back home to New Zealand again Heave away boys and chew your tobacco We’re on our way back home again Never more will […]

Written by Cyril Tawney (c) 1959 Well the rain’s softly falling and the oggy man’s no more I can’t hear him calling like I used to before I came through the gateway and I heard the sergeant say The big boys are coming, see their stand across the way Yes the rain’s softly falling and […]

Written by Cyril Tawney Stanley’s a rat and a fast one at that From bulkhead to bulkhead in four seconds flat He’s come and he’s gone ‘ere an eyelid could bat But he’d do it much quicker if we had a cat. One flashing run and his visit is done Stan never lingers to join […]

Written by Cyril Tawney (c) 1958 Sally, free and easy, That should be her name, Sally, free and easy, That should be her name, Took a sailor’s lovin’, For a nursery game. Though the heart she gave me, Was not made of stone,(2X) It was sweet and hollow, Like a honey comb, Think I’ll wait […]

Written by Cyril Tawney (c) 1954 I’m a lean and unwashed tiffy I come up from Plymouth Town I can fix it in a jiffy If you’ll hand that spanner down If you’ll hand – that spanner down. Portland girls are raving beauties ‘Specially in the summer time They make you curse these week-end duties […]

Le Capitaine de Saint Malo Ali alo Qui fait la pèche au cachelot ali ali ali alo Ali alo. Il donne la goutte à ses matelots A grands coups de barres de guindeau! Il mange la viand nous laisse les os Il boit du vin et nous de l’eau! Et son second qui est un […]

There was a ship that put to sea, And the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea The winds blew up, her bow dipped down, Oh blow, my bully boys, blow. Soon may the Wellerman come And bring us sugar and tea and rum. One day, when the tonguing is done, I’ll take […]

Written by Bob Watson (Not technically a NZ song, but made famous by Bob Large and the Maritime Crew) Oh the southern ocean is a lonely place Where the storms are many and the shelter’s scarce Down upon the southern ocean sailing Down below Cape Horn On the restless water and the troublin’ skies You […]

Methinks I see a host of craft spreading their sails o’lee As down the Humber they do glide all bound for the northern sea Methinks I see on each small craft a gallant crew so brave Going out to earn their daily bread upon the restless wave And it’s three score and ten, boys and […]

Come all you bold fellows that have to this place come And we’ll sing to the praise of good brandy and rum Let us lift up our glasses good cheer is our goal Bring me the punch ladle I’ll fathom the bowl I’ll fathom the bowl I’ll fathom the bowl Bring me the punch ladle […]