Auckland to the Bluff
Hymnal Index | Ship's Company Website
I left the city when just a lad.
Times were hard and no work to be had,
So I went to sea in the Flora Belle.
Little did I know 'twas a ship from hell.
The ship was old and leaking at the seams,
A dirty old tub, somewhat broad in the beam.
Its sails were torn. Some planks were rotten.
It lay at the wharf a-gently rockin'.
I've sailed from Auckland to the Bluff,
A thousand miles and that's enough--
A thousand miles on the heaving sea.
Glory Hal-le-lu'! That's enough for me.
We set sail on the evening tide.
It was early on a Saturday night.
All went well till the Tiri light,
And then, by God, I got a fright.
The ship was hit by a big beam sea.
Christ! I thought it's all up for me.
She rolled and she lolloped like a big tin drum.
Hell! I swore my time had come.
"Shorten sails," the skipper cried.
"Shorten the sails or you buggers will all die.
Get aloft, get aloft, right up the mast.
Get aloft, get aloft, and get up there fast."
Never in my life had I been so scared.
Never in my life had I wished I was dead.
But I climbed up the mast and I shortened sail,
Then I climbed down again and was sick o'er the rail.