The Sealers

Come all ye good people, I pray lend an ear,
Who wish to go seal-fishing in the spring of the year;
There was two schooners and two sloops in the pool where we lay,
Being well-manned and rigged and would soon sail away,
To me raddy for the diddle all the day.

Bloody decks to her dashers!' the children did cry,
As the schooner, the "Tiger", was ready for Sea;
So we all bid adieu to our sweethearts and friends,
And I hope it won't be long till she'll be loaded to the bends.
To me raddy for the diddle all the day.

Now they are going to start.'

Our course it being southeast for three days and three nights,
When the Captain cries out, `Look ahead for the ice!'
We hove her about, stood her in for the land,
And in less than three hours we were solid in the jam.
To me raddy for the diddle all the day.

While the cook was getting breakfast every man took a dram,
With his bat upon his shoulder jumped out upon the pan;
With their bats upon their shoulders so merrily they go,
Every one showed his action without missing of a blow.
To me raddy for the diddle all the day,

While some they were sculping and others hauling-to,
Every man showed his action without missing of a blow;
In the dusk of the evening when all came on board,
We counted nine hundred pelts in the hold.
To me raddy for the diddle all the day.

So it's now we've got our cargo, and we're all safe and sound,
So it's now we've got our cargo, it's homeward we are bound;
With the wind about southeast, and the sky very clear,
We will never drop an anchor till we drop it right down there.
To me raddy for the diddle all the day.

With the wind about southeast, and the air very cool,
We will never drop an anchor till we drop it in the Pool.
To me raddy for the diddle all the day.