What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?
The song shares its tune with the traditional Irish folk song "Óró sé do bheatha abhaile". It's unknown which song came first.
What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?
Sea Shanty
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
Early* in the morning?
Chorus:
Way, hay up she rises,
Way, hay, up she rises,
Way, hay, up she rises,
Early in the morning!
Put him in the long boat 'til he's sober.
Put him in the long boat 'til he's sober.
Put him in the long boat 'til he's sober.
Early in the morning!
Pull out the plug and wet him all over.
Pull out the plug and wet him all over.
Pull out the plug and wet him all over.
Early in the morning!
Put him in the scuppers with a hosepipe on him.
Put him in the scuppers with a hosepipe on him.
Put him in the scuppers with a hosepipe on him.
Early in the morning!
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning?
Notes
*"Early" is often pronounced "earl-eye" in this song.
According to Wikipedia:
"The first published description of the shanty is found in an account of an 1839 whaling voyage out of New London, Connecticut to the Pacific Ocean. It was used as an example of a song that was, 'performed with very good effect when there is a long line of men hauling together'. The tune was noted, along with these lyrics:
Ho! Ho! and up she rises.
Ho! Ho! and up she rises.
Ho! Ho! and up she rises,
Early in the morning."
Comments
No. 322 in the Roud Folk Song Index.
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