Chaunticleer

Another Rick E Spencer composition.    Similar in theme to Jolly Roving Tar but more detailed and grittier.

 

We pulled into port on Saturday morning (Johnny get up let’s go)
With 9 months’ pay we were ready for rolling (Johnny get up let’s go)
And the New York women were ready for a week (Johnny get up let’s go)
With our pockets full of money we hit the street (Johnny get up let’s go)

Chorus:
They said “Johnny get up we missed you so.”
“Johnny get up it’s time to go.”
When your hard-earned cash is gone
It’s “get outta here Johnny let Jack sit down.”

They said “where have you been my sailor honey?” (Johnny get up let’s go)
“We missed your sweet lips and your money.” (Johnny get up let’s go)
And it’s around the town in a very fine fashion (Johnny get up let’s go)
They spent our money on our own sweet passions (Johnny get up let’s go)

Chorus

Now the boys and I was full of hell (Johnny get up let’s go)
And the tricks of the old trade we all knew well (Johnny get up let’s go)
So we made a ready vow that before the end (Johnny get up let’s go)
We’d have on their house a sweet revenge (Johnny get up let’s go).

Chorus

So it’s back to the house on 14th Street (Johnny get up let’s go)
Where they promised us liquor and other fine treats (Johnny get up let’s go)
But the boys and I went light on the swill (Johnny get up let’s go)
Seeing to it that the women all drank their fill (Johnny get up let’s go)
And it’s out we crept in the dark of the night (Johnny get up let’s go)
They had breakfast in bed by the morning light (Johnny get up let’s go)
For we filled their beds with a sailors’ chowder (Johnny get up let’s go)
Seaweed, fish heads, dust, gunpowder (Johnny get up let’s go)

Chorus

We took all their gear and it’s out we run (Johnny get up let’s go)
We was back on the ship by the morning sun (Johnny get up let’s go)
And we pulled out of port this Monday past (Johnny get up let’s go)
With their fine, frilly underwear strung from the mast (Johnny get up let’s go).

Chorus

Now all you women what own the street (Johnny get up let’s go)
And you live the lives of the indiscreet (Johnny get up let’s go)
Take my warning and beware (Johnny get up let’s go)
Of the boys of the good ship Chaunticleer. (Johnny get up let’s go)

Chorus