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traditional "homeward bound" shanty for the capstan
The Mary Wallopers do it in D, capo 4 (so, F#), but Nate does it a half step down so its written without the capo.
Home Boys Home
by trad
Oh, who [F] wouldn't be a sailor lad a-sailing on the main
To [C7] gain the respect of his [F] captain's good name?
[F] He'd sail a- [Bb] shore one [F] evening for to [C7] be
And [C7] that was the beginning of my own true love with me.
Chorus
And it's [F] home, boys, home, [C7][F] home I'd like to be,
[Bb] Home for a [F] while in my own count-[C7] ry,
Where the [F] oak and the [Bb] ash and the [F] bonny rowan [C7] tree,
Are [C7] all a-growing green in the north count-[F] ry.
Well I asked her for a candle to light me up to bed
and likewise for a handkerchief to tie around me head
She tended to my needs like a young maid ought to do
and then I says to her: "Now won't you jump in with me too?"
Chorus
Now she jumped into bed, making no alarm
Thinking that a sailor boy could do to her no harm.
I hugged her and I kissed her the whole night long,
I wished the short night had been seven years long.
Chorus
Well early next morning the sailor boy arose
And into Mary's apron threw a handful of gold
Saying: "Take this my dear for the damage that I've done
tonight I fear I've left you with a daughter or a son."
Chorus
"Oh if it be a girl child send her out to nurse
With gold in her apron and with silver in her purse.
and if it be a boy let him wear the jacket blue
And go climbing up the rigging like his father used to do."
Chorus
Oh a warning me maidens, a warning take by me
Dont ever let a sailor boy an inch above your knee
For I trusted one and he beguiled me
He left me with a pair of twins to dangle on my knee
Chorus
To [C7] gain the respect of his [F] captain's good name?
[F] He'd sail a- [Bb] shore one [F] evening for to [C7] be
And [C7] that was the beginning of my own true love with me.
Chorus
And it's [F] home, boys, home, [C7][F] home I'd like to be,
[Bb] Home for a [F] while in my own count-[C7] ry,
Where the [F] oak and the [Bb] ash and the [F] bonny rowan [C7] tree,
Are [C7] all a-growing green in the north count-[F] ry.
Well I asked her for a candle to light me up to bed
and likewise for a handkerchief to tie around me head
She tended to my needs like a young maid ought to do
and then I says to her: "Now won't you jump in with me too?"
Chorus
Now she jumped into bed, making no alarm
Thinking that a sailor boy could do to her no harm.
I hugged her and I kissed her the whole night long,
I wished the short night had been seven years long.
Chorus
Well early next morning the sailor boy arose
And into Mary's apron threw a handful of gold
Saying: "Take this my dear for the damage that I've done
tonight I fear I've left you with a daughter or a son."
Chorus
"Oh if it be a girl child send her out to nurse
With gold in her apron and with silver in her purse.
and if it be a boy let him wear the jacket blue
And go climbing up the rigging like his father used to do."
Chorus
Oh a warning me maidens, a warning take by me
Dont ever let a sailor boy an inch above your knee
For I trusted one and he beguiled me
He left me with a pair of twins to dangle on my knee
Chorus