The Boston Come-All-Ye

Words & Music:

Traditional

 

      G                                         C          G           D7         G

Come all ye young sailormen listen to me, I'll sing you a song of the fish of the sea.

G                                      C          G                          D7         G

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Oh, first came the whale, he's the biggest of all, he clumb up aloft, and let every sail fall.

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Next came the mackerel with his striped back, he hauled aft the sheets and boarded each tack.

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

The porpoise came next with his little snout, he grabbed the wheel, calling "Ready?  About!".

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Then came the smelt, the smallest of all, he jumped to the poop and sung out, "Topsail, haul!".

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

The herring came saying, I'm king of the seas!  If you want any wind, I'll blow you a breeze."

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Up jumped the tuna saying, "No, I am the king! Just pull on the line, and let the bell ring."

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Next came the cod with his chucklehead, he went to the main-chains to heave to the lead.

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Last come the flounder as flat as the ground, saying, "Damn your eyes, chucklehead, mind how you sound!"

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Then, up jumps the fisherman with a big grin, and with his big net he scooped them all in.

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

OTHER VERSES:

 

Up comes the blue-fish a-wagging his tail, he come up on the deck and yells: "All hands make sail!"

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Next comes the eels, with their nimble tails, they jumped up aloft and loosed all the sails.

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Next come the herrings, with their little tails, the manned sheets and halliards and set all the sails.

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Next comes the swordfish, the scourge of the sea, the order he gives is "Helm's a-lee!"

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Then comes the turbot, as red as a beet, he shouts from the bridge: "Stick out that foresheet!"

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Having accomplished these wonderful feats, the blackfish sings out next to: "Rise tacks and sheet!"

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Next comes the whale, the largest of all, singing out from the bridge: "Haul taut, mainsail, haul!"

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Then comes the mackerel, with his striped back, he flopped on the bridge and yelled: "Board the main tack!"

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Next comes the sprat, the smallest of all, he sings out: "Haul well taut, let go and haul!"

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Along came a dolphin, flapping his tail, he yelled to the boatswain to reef the foresail.

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.

 

Along came the shark, with his three rows of teeth, he flops on the foreyard and takes a snug reef.

Then blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow; we're bound to the southward, so steady she goes.