Ben Backstay
Hymnal Index | Ship's Company Website
Ben Backstay was a bos'n, A very jolly boy,
No lad than he more merrily Could pipe all hands ahoy.
And when unto his summons We did not well attend,
No lad than he more merrily Could handle a rope's end.
Could handle a rope's end, Could handle a rope's end.
Singing! Chip chow, cherry chow, fa da ra da diddle dow
Chip chow, cherry chow, fa da raddle day
Chip chow, cherry chow, fa da ra da diddle dow
Chip chow, cherry chow, fa da raddle day
One day at sea, our captain, A very jolly dog,
Served out to all the company A double whack of grog.
Ben Backstay he got tipsy, Unto his heart's content,
And he being half-seas over boys, right overboard he went.
Right overboard he went, Right overboard he went
A shark was on the starboard bow & sharks no man can stand
For they do grapple everything, Just like them sharks on land.
We heaved out some tackle, to give his life some hope
But as the shark bit off his head, he couldn't see the rope.
he couldn't see the rope, he couldn't see the rope.
Without a head his ghost appeared, out on the briny lake:
He piped all hands ahoy and said; "Lads, by me warning take:
By drinking grog I lost my life, And you my fate could meet,
So never mix your rum, me lads, but always drink it neat."
but always drink it neat, but always drink it neat.