The Boatswain (feat. Lukas Drinkwater & Tom Gregory)

There was a bold boatswain and in Dover he did dwell

And a handsome wife had whom a tailor's loved well

And when the bold boatswain was out of the way

His frolicsome young wife and the tailor they would play

To my rally tally tall, oh rally tally tay

One day she's gone a-walking and she's out into the street

When this loving tailor man, well she has chanced there to meet

"My husband is on board with the rest of the crew

So on this very night I shall frolic here with you"

To my rally tally tall, oh rally tally tay

Now as it all fell out, about twelve of the clock

Well, the boatswain he's returned and on the door there he did knock

Which surprised them in their frolics, for neither were to sleep,

Says the tailor, "loving woman, O where shall I creep?"

To my rally tally tall, oh rally tally tay

So there they've laid a-pondering and musing in the bed

When a comical fancy has come into her head

"My husband's chest's a-waitin 'neath the dresser, there," she's cried

Where in it my young tailor you may certainally hide

To my rally tally tall, oh rally tally tay

So down the stairs she goes and she's opened up the door

Where she's found the boatswain there with sailors three or four

"My dear I am so sorry I've disturbed you in your rest

But here I am returned for I need to have my chest"

To my rally tally tall, oh rally tally tay

From the chest the tailor whispers, "woman, pay me some regard

They'll be breaking all my bones and they'll be cutting off my yard

And if that were to happen then I'm ruined I'm afraid

For I get more from my yard than from the tailor trade"

To my rally tally tall, oh rally tally tay

Well the sailors scarcely carried that old chest from the town

When the weight of it had drenched them in sweat all running down

They sat themselves all comfy on their baggage for to rest

Saying one to another, well the devil's in the chest

To my rally tally tall, oh rally tally tay

Now, neither of these sailors this old chest could undo

So up comes the boatswain and the rest of the crew

He's opened up the cargo and in view of them all

There lay the tailor like a dog inside a stall

To my rally tally tall, oh rally tally tay

"Now, what have we here, bold fellow," the boatswain cried

"I've been cuckolded on shore many times I'm afraid"

So he pressed this bold tailor and took him off to sea

Saying, "he'll not be staying at home with his yard to cuckold me"

To my rally tally tall, oh rally tally tay