Craic Agus Ceol - 25 Year Afore The Mast

 The Irish group Craic Agus Ceol (Fun and Music in Gaelic) brings for the their latest, another song in the form and spirit of a Sea Shanty. The group makes no bones about the fact that they write their shanties themselves, that they are not authentic tunes. it isn't all what they do, but on occasion they write one when the spirit strikes. One of the singers in the group is a descendant of sailors going back to the days of wind and sails, and has commented he heard a lot traditional ones at family get-togethers when he was young, and it left an impression.

I were 25 year afore the mast, 

A fancy way of saying I were a sailor. 

Spent time on all kinds a cargo ships 

And spent time on a stinkin', rotten, whaler 

 

 The sea was 'bout the only way fer me 

Couldn't do much else 'cause I'm so dumb 

It were hard work and I'm all cobbled up 

With aches in my joints, and a cock that's numb. 

 

 Ne'er went to school, started workin' young. 

I was a pain in the arse to my pappy. 

But he finally packed my off as a cabin boy 

To get rid of me made him happy. 

 

The sea was 'bout the only way to go 

Twern't a brainy lad, ya see 

Were a cabin boy 'til I growed up 

Had a hard time learnin' how to be at sea. 

 

 Hauled all kinds of cargo through the years. 

As much as the ship's hold would fit 

Lumber, grain, tin, and guano 

That's just a fancy way to say shit. 

 

 The sea were a hard master 

And 'cuz I were so dumb, 

It took my long time to learn the ropes

 Along the way, I lost a thumb! 

 

 I lived from one port to the other

 With my ship a tough master at sea 

Cap'ns were always a pain in the backside

 Took out their frustrations on me 

 

Most of 'em were old drunken bastards 

Hired by the owners of the ship. 

Mean and onry to the mates 

Were free with the mast-heading and whip 

 

One Cap'n was worst than the most a them were 

First mate talked to him in futility 

Some mates decided to take the ship 

Commit the grand crime of mutiny. 

 

They was found out, and the leader of the gang 

Got the ultimate penalty at sea. 

Hung him from a yardarm, the Cap'n did 

For the high crime of mutiny.

 

 Can still see him in my minds eye. 

He didn't die right off. 

He kicked, struggled as he choked to death 

Then the Cap'n let his body rot aloft. 

 

He were a friend a mine, the mutineer 

The one thing I dearly used to wish 

To meet the Cap'n on a back street in some port 

Take out my knife, and gut him like a fish! 

 

All that's a long, long time past

 I live with my daughter from a maid in port 

Never knew her when she were growin' up 

She's a forgivin', and lovable sort. 

 

So I spend my days sittin' on a bench 

All mangled up and a patch over my eye 

Look like a goddam pirate sittin' there. 

I’ll keep tellin' sea stories 'til I die