| Ben Backstay was a boatswain
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| A very jolly boy
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| No lad than he more merrily
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| Could pipe all hands ahoy
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| And when unto his summons
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| We did not well attend
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| No lad than he more merrily
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| Could handle a rope’s end
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| Singing chip cho, cherry cho
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| Fol de riddle ido
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| Singing chip cho, cherry cho
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| Fol de riddle ido
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| It chanced one day our captain
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| A very jolly dog
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| Served out to all the company
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| A double share of grog
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| Ben Backstay he got tipsy
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| Unto his heart’s content
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| And being half-seas over
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| Why overboard he went
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| Singing chip cho, cherry cho
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| Fol de riddl ido
|
| Singing chip cho, cherry cho
|
| Fol de riddle ido
|
| A shark was on th larboard bow:
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| Sharks don’t on manners stand
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| But grapple all they come near
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| Just like your sharks on land
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| We heaved Ben out some tackling
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| Of saving him in hopes;
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| But the shark he bit his head off
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| So he couldn’t see the ropes
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| Singing chip cho, cherry cho
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| Fol de riddle ido
|
| Singing chip cho, cherry cho
|
| Fol de riddle ido
|
| Without his head his ghost appeared
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| All on the briny lake:
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| He piped all hands aloft and said;
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| «Lads, by me warning take:
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| By drinking grog I lost my life
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| So lest my fate you meet
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| Why, never mix your liquors, lads
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| But always drink them neat.» |