Fire Ship
Hymnal Index | Ship's Company Website
As I strolled out one evening, Out for a night's career
I spied a lofty ship And after her did steer.
I hoisted her my signals Which she very quickly knew;
And when she seed my bunting fly She immediately hove to.


She had a dark and rolling eye,
And her hair hung down in ringalets.
She was a nice girl, a decent girl,
But one of the rakish kind.


O, sir, you must excuse me for being out so late,
For if my parents knew of it sad would be my fate.
My father he's a minister, a good and honest man,
My mother she's a Methodist, and I do the best I can."

I took her to a tavern And I treated her to wine,
Little did I think she belonged To the rakish kind.
I handled her, I dandled her, And found to my surprise,
She was nothing but a Fire Ship, Rigged up in a disguise.

So, come all ye young Seamen, Who on the streets do sail,
If you would find companionship, Beware the ships you hail,
I'd barely left my Fire Ship, It was hardly a week gone past,
When I found the fire that burned in her Was a-ragin' in my mast.