Sailing Orders

Up the hook, the bosun said;
   (Ho, me hearties, ho!)
Theres heavy weather on ahead
   (Tumble up, below!)
Theres dirty weather coming down,
Our course is set for Melbourne town
   And a queer thing that should be!
So show a leg and tumble up, and pick your fancy for the Cup
   With the good ship running free.

Funny thing, the boatman said,
   (Ho, me hearties, ho!)
But when November looms ahead
   (Tumble up, below!)
To Melbourne Port the orders say,
And nothings left but to obey,
   For the likes of you and me.
And whats a sailor to do, when duty calls, but see it through,
   With the good ship running free?

If I should win, the boatman said;
   (Ho, me hearties, ho!)
Ill buy myself a feather bed
   (Tumble up, below!)
And never put to sea again.
Yet luck aint kind to sailor men,
   But Ill get my fun, said he.
But every man shall have his lass, and make his bet and drink a glass,
   To a good horse running free, said he,
   And thats the life for me!