As they swung the bars, deep came the note:
"John, come tell us as we haul away."
(Jack) "A-screwing cotton all the day."
(Chorus) "John, come tell us as we haul away.
Aye, aye, haul, aye!
John, come tell us as we haul away."
Then Jack went on:
"What did I see in Mobile Bay?"
(Chorus) "John, come tell us as we haul away."
(Jack) "Were the girls all fair and free and gay?"
(Chorus) "John, come tell us as we haul away.
Aye, aye, haul, aye!
John, come tell us as we haul away."
(Jack) "Oh! This I saw in Mobile Bay."
(Chorus) "So he tells us as we haul away."
(Jack) "A pretty girl a-making hay."
(Chorus) "So he tells us as we haul away.
Aye, aye, haul, aye!
So he tells us as we haul away."
So the chanty ran on gaily verse after verse, the chorus raised high above the moaning of the wind and the groaning of the ship.
"Give us another!" was the general cry as the last verse finished, and away went Jack again with "A-roving":
(Jack) "In Amsterdam there lives a maid—
Mark you well what I say—
In Amsterdam there lives a maid,
And she is mistress of her trade.
I'll go no more a-roving from you, fair maid!"
(Chorus) "A-roving, a-roving, since roving's been my ruin,
I'll go no more a-roving from you, fair maid!"
This also ran its course, then Curly struck up "One more day for Johnnie":
(Curly) "Only one more day for Johnnie."
(Chorus) "One more day!"
(Curly) "Oh! rock and roll me over!"
(Chorus) "One more——"
Then the bosun most rudely interrupted the music.