Windy Old Weather

(Trad)

 

I’ll sing yous a song of the fish of the sea

And I hope that you’ll join in the chorus with me

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

The ship she was rigged and was ready for sea

There was never a wind, there was never a breeze

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

The mate, he was wise from the day he was born

Said I’ll whistle a tune for to drive her along

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

A seal heard his whistle and loudly did call

Just stow yer light canvas, jib, spanker and all

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

I’ll send you some fish to consult if you please

The best way to get yous a nice whistling breeze

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

Then up came the herring, the king of the sea

He jumped on the deck and said ‘captain I’ll be’

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

Then up jumped a flatfish, they call him the skate

Said ‘if you’ll be the skipper then I’ll be your mate’

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

Then up came the shark with his two rows of teeth

Said ‘ show me the galley and I’ll mind the beef’

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

Then up comes the codfish with his chuckle head

He stood on the chains, began swinging the lead

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

Then up came the flounder who lies on the ground

Said ‘Damn yer eyes chuckle head, mind where you sound’

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

Then up jumped the mackerel with his pretty striped back

He hauled aft each sheet and he boarded each tack

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

Then up came the squid, with his ten arms or more

He climbed in the jolly boat and rowed to the shore

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

Then up jumped the sprat, the smallest of all

He stood on the poop shouting ‘main tops’ls haul’

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together

 

The wind it did blow and onwards went we

With the damndest old crew as you ever did see

 

In this windy old weather

Stormy old weather

When the wind blows

We’ll all pull together.