Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TARPAULING JACKET by ANONYMOUS

First Line: I AM A YOUNG JOLLY BRISK SAILOR
Last Line: AND FIDDLE AND DANCE TO MY GRAVE
Subject(s): DEATH;DRINKS & DRINKING;LOVE;SAILING & SAILORS; "DEAD, THE;"
I am a young jolly brisk sailor,
Delights in all manner of sport,
When I'm in liquor I'm mellow,
The girls I then merrily court.
But love is surrounded with trouble,
And puts such strange thoughts in my head,
Is it not a terrible story,
That love it should strike me stone dead?

* * *

Here's a health to my friends and acquaintance,
When death for me it doth come,
And let them behave in their station
And send me a cask of good rum,
Let it be good royal stingo,
With three barrels of beer,
To make my friends the more welcome
When they meet me at derry down fair.

Let there be six sailors to carry me,
Let them be damnable drunk,
And as they are going to bury me,
Let them fall down with my trunk.
Let there be no sighing or sobbing,
But one single favour I crave,
Take me up in a tarpauling jacket,
And fiddle and dance to my grave.



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