There was a time when never a week passed without a sing-song
| We have missed the tide at Yarmouth, |
1 |
| Touched those Burgh Castle flats, |
2 |
| Heard the rustle of the reeds in 'No Man's Friend.' |
3 |
We have passed the mill at Berney
From an early morning start,
Made a leeward landing, sweet, on Cantley bend.
Yes, we know these Southern waters,
Every muddy bank and shoal;
We have weathered storm and gale in every reach;
And we'll beat through Breydon Water
Whilst stick and sheet shall last . . .
Then we'll die and be dismasted like the rest.
We have lain at Somerleyton
When an evening breeze fell out, |
|
| Dropped a peak at Thorpe when running well to rear. |
4 |
We have eased our way from Oulton,
Made that well-known lunch-time halt |
|
| For the pleasure of a pint of panacea. |
5 |
| Yes we blazed the trail to Rockland |
6 |
| In the cruise of '52, |
|
| Dropped a quant by night on Breydon's muddy shore. |
7 |
| And we'll shoot the bridge at Beccles |
|
| Whilst tabernacles last, |
8 |
| Then broach-to and break our booms just like the rest. |
9 |
| |
|
| We have broken tacks at Stracey |
10 |
| Set Hope's jib upside down, |
|
| Shipped it green when running down the lower Yare. |
11 |
We have run for Stokesby Ferry
With a Roger hard astern, |
|
| When two Moons, dismasted, finished worse for wear. |
12 |
| Yes, we went aground in Norwich, |
13 |
| Passed the Beauchamp by the lee, |
14 |
| Heard 'September in the Rain' at Harry Young's, |
15 |
| and we'll make the 'Ship' at Reedham |
|
| Whilst Pirate's bows shall last; |
16 |
| Then we'll sink and split our bowsprits like the rest. |
17 |
| |
|
Chorus:
We're poor liitle lambs who have gone astray
Baa, baa, baa;
We're little black sheep who have lost our way,
Baa, baa, baa. |
|
Notes:
| 1 often |
2 a common excuse |
3 a stone bound beach |
| 4 a ploy |
5 wartime practice |
6 fact |
| 7 E.M. |
8 J.H.P. |
9 C.H. |
| 10 C.H. & E.G.W. |
11 J.P |
12 L.G. |
| 13 1947 |
14 always |
15 not possible now |
| 16 D.V. |
17 many |
|
|
|