Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
Oh you Western Ocean labourers, I would have you all beware,
That when you’re aboard of a packet-ship, no dungaree jumpers wear,
But have a big monkey jacket always at your command,
And think of the cold Nor’westers on the Banks of the Newfoundland.
Chorus:
So we’ll rub her round and scrub her round with holystone and sand,
And say farewell to the Virgin Rocks on the Banks of the Newfoundland.
As I lay in my bunk one night a-dreaming all alone,
I dreamt I was in Liverpool, way up in Marylebone,
With my true love beside of me, and a jug of ale in hand,
When I woke quite brokenhearted on the Banks of Newfoundland.
Chorus
We had one Lynch from Ballinahinch, Jimmy Murphy and Mike Moore;
It was in the winter of sixty-two, those sea-boys suffered sore,
For they’d pawned their clothes in Liverpool, and sold them out of hand,
Not thinking of the cold Nor’westers on the Banks of Newfoundland.
Chorus
We had one female passenger, bridget Riley was her name,
To her I promised marriage and on me she had a claim.
She tore up her flannel petticoats to make mittens for our hands,
For she couldn’t see the sea-boys freeze on the Banks of Newfoundland.
Chorus
And now we’re off Sandy Hook, my boys, and the land’s all covered with snow.
The tug-boat will take our hawser and for New York we will tow;
And when we arrive at the Black Ball dock, the boys and girls there will stand,
We’ll bid adieu to the packet-ships and the Banks of Newfoundland.
Chorus