Charles Dibdin

  • Poor Jack

    Go, patter to lubbers and swabs, do ye see,
      ’Bout danger, and fear, and the like;
    A tight-water boat and good sea-room give me,
      And it a’n’t to a little I ’ll strike.
    Though the tempest topgallant-masts smack smooth should smite,
      And shiver each...

  • Tom Bowling

    Here, a sheer hulk, lies poor Tom Bowling,
      The darling of our crew;
    No more he ’ll hear the tempest howling,
      For death has broached him to.
    His form was of the manliest beauty,
      His heart was kind and soft;
    Faithful, below, he did his duty;...

  • The Heaving of the Lead

    For England when with favoring gale
      Our gallant ship up channel steered,
    And, scudding under easy sail,
      The high blue western land appeared;
    To heave the lead the seaman sprung,
    And to the pilot cheerly sung,
                “By the deep—nine!”...