H.M.S. Rose off Ferryland, August 1995. Printed from shanty.rendance.org Site contents © 1993-2009 Andrew Draskóy excepting product images and lyrics.
Blow the Wind Westerly - trad. Newfoundland capstan shanty

Up jumps a crab with his crooked legs
Saying "you play the cribbage and I'll stick the pegs"
Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

Up jumps a dolphin with his chuckle-head
He jumps on the deck saying "pull out the lead!"

Up jumps a flounder so flat on the ground
Saying "damn your old chocolate, mind how you sound"

Up jumps a salmon so bright as the sun
He jumped down between the decks and fired off a gun

Up jumps a whale, the biggest of all
He jumped up aloft and he's pawl after pawl

Up jumps a herring, the king of the sea
He jumps up on deck saying "helms a-lee!"

Up jumps a shark with his big row of teeth
He jumped up between the decks and shook out the reefs