Auckland to the Bluff

I left the city when just a lad, Times were hard and no work to be had, So I went to sea in the Flora Belle, Little did I know 'twas a ship from hell. The ship was old and leaking at the seams, A dirty old tub somewhat broad in the beam, Its sails were torn, some planks were rotten, It lay at the wharf a gently rockin. I've sailed from Auckland to the Bluff A thousand miles and that's enough A thousand miles on the heaving sea Glory Hal-le-lu' that's enough for me We set sail on the evening tide It was early on a Saturday night All went well till the Tiri light And then by God I got a fright The ship was hit by a big beam sea Christ, I thought, it's all up for me; She rolled and she lollopped like a big tin drum Hell! I swore my time had come. "Shorten sails" the skipper cried "Shorten the sails or you buggers will all die Get aloft, get aloft, right up the mast Get aloft, get aloft, and get up there fast." Never in my life had I been so scared Never in my life had I wished I was dead But I climbed up the mast and I shortened sail Then I climbed down again and was sick o'er the rail. Man the pumps the skipper roared Man the pumps or you'll sail the ocean floor So I pumped all night though my hands were raw And I pumped and I pumped 'till the coming of the dawn How we survived that night I don't know The wind it did roar and the wind it did blow But the sun came up and the sea went down The wind did ease and we headed south For breakfast we had mouldy bread For lunch it was the very same fare For supper we had a stinking stew Cookie couldn't eat his own damned brew The skipper was an old man old and mean Tough as nails and just as lean Voice like a foghorn in the gloom When he cursed was a voice of doom. The work was hard and the pay was mean The food was rotten, quarters none too clean The journey south was always rough So I jumped the ship when we pulled into Bluff So here in Bluff I'll settle down Never again will I leave this town Never again will I go to sea Never again will it see me