This is an actual work song, or chantey; Collected by Cecil Sharp: 3 June,1914 from Capt. Hole, of Watchet, Somerset England, and cited as a “halyard chantey”.  Stan Hugill stated that it was a “long haul” or “halyard” chantey, but since the I have seen it cited as having been utilized at either the capstan or pumps; Let’s chalk it up to being versatile utility.  There are several variations of this song in print on the subject but generally they all revolve around the same idea.  Not the same as the “Noah’s Ark Song”.  The chantey is also called “A Long Time Ago” and is set by the singer in Liverpool or San Francisco or Portsmouth or wherever you wish it.  A standard first set song sung by Rick Spencer in our performances.

Jos. Morneault

A long time and a very long time,
Way, hay, o-hyo! 
A long time and a very long time,
A long time ago

Three ships they came into Liverpool Bay
Three ships they came into Liverpool Bay

One of them ships was the old Noah’s ark
All covered all o’er wi’ hickory bark

The animals came in two by two
‘Till the old ark looked just like a zoo

The animals came in three by three
The elephant was riding on the back of the flea

The bull and the cow they started a row
Noah stood up and said, “That’s enough, now!”

Then Noah said with a crack of his whip
“Stop all this row or I’ll scuttle the ship”

But the bull struck his horn through the side of the ark
And the little black dog began to bark

So Noah stuck the dog’s nose in the hole
Since then, all dogs’ noses have been wet and cold

It’s a long, long time and a very long time
A long, long time and a very long time