Has The Little Sailor Gone?
By John McMenamin
(A naughty, nautical, saucy tale of the sea, in which minute
mariners indulge in extra-marital shenanigans)
Down in the Maiden city,
Where the Foyle does ebb and flow
A man was walking near the docks
As homeward he did go.
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The wee man was called Paddy
With a cloth cap on his head
A muffler tied around his throat
And he wished he was in bed.
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As Paddy turned a corner
He saw a fearsome sight
"Twas the sailors friend, Big Lily
Underneath a flickering light.
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Wee Paddy looked at Lily
Standing underneath the light
Big Lily was a lady
Yes, a lady of the night.
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Big Lily stood there swaying
She was eating fish and chips
Big Lily was well known
To the men who sailed the ships
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She was stately as a galleon
That sailed the Spanish main
As she stood there with her anchor down
In the early morning rain.
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She was low in the water
She was broad across the beam
But she could go like the clappers
When she'd up a head of steam.
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She was built just like a battle ship
That sailed off to foreign lands
Big Lily was the captain
But sometimes took on extra hands.
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Big Lily looked at Paddy
As she chewed a piece of cod
Spit out the bones and growled out low
"Come 'ere , yeh daft wee sod."
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Paddy looked up at Big Lily
There was not a soul about
Her bosom's heaved from side to side
As the tide went in and out.
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"Are you off a ship?" said Lily
As she did gently roll
"I don't work at all" said Paddy
"Sure I'm ten years on the dole."
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Wee Paddy looked at Lily
Then he looked down at his shoe
"I get my dole on Wednesday
Would you take and I.O.U".
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"You're no good to me" said Lily
"I sail off at the dawn,
But before you go, now tell me
Has the little sailor gone?"
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Wee Paddy stood and scratched his head
The Guildhall clock struck three
"I don't see a soul", said Paddy
"Except for you and me".
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Big Lily gave herself a shake
Her timbers they did groan
"Man over-board!" she shouted.
As she sailed off to her home.
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We Paddy watched Big Lily
As she sailed off in the dawn
Big Lily went off singing
Has the little sailor gone?
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Has the little sailor gone?
As she sailed off in the dawn
Tinker tailor soldier sailor
Has the little sailor gone?
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