Misc Traditional – La Pique (Guitar)

Am                          G             E7
It's of a flash frigate, La Pique was her name

    Am                     G          Am
All in the West Indies she bore great fame:

    Am        G
For cruel bad usage of ev'ry degree,

     Am            C         E7                Dm
Like slaves in the galley we ploughed the salt sea.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

       Am                      G           E7
Now at four in the morning our work does begin,

       Am                          G            Am
In our 'tween decks and cock-pit a bucket might swim,

    Am           G
Our main and top foremen so loudly do bawl,

    Am           C         E7             Dm
For sand and for holystone both great and small.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

        Am                          G                E7
Now our decks being washed down and swabbed up quite dry,

     Am           G                       Am
It's lash up your hammocks our bos'n does cry;

      Am         G
Seven turns of a lashing so neatly must show,

    Am         C              E7             Dm
and all of one size through a loop they must go.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

     Am                   G               E7
Now, Mister McKeever, you knows him quite well,

    Am                     G            Am
He comes up on deck and he cuts a great swell;

     Am         G
It's up on them yards boys, or God damn your eyes!

       Am          C       E7        Dm
I've a pump handle here to trim your size!

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

    Am                            G           E7
And now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun,

     Am                        G           Am
It's hands about ship and reef topsails in one;

     Am         G
It's lay aloft, topmen, as the hell-um goes down,

    Am             C              E7              G
And clew down your tops'ls as the mainyard comes 'round.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

          Am                    G           E7
Now, your quids of tobacco, I'd have you to mind,

       Am                        G             Am
If you spits upon deck it's your death warrant signed,

       Am         G
If you spits over bow, over gangway, or stern,

       Am            C        E7          Dm
You're sure of three dozen to help you to learn.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

   Am                        G        E7
So now, brother sailors, wherever you be,

     Am                     G             Am
From all fancy frigates I'd have you keep free,

            Am           G
For they'll haze you and work you 'til you ain't worth a damn,

    Am            C            E7           Dm
And send you half dead to your dear native land.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.

      Am          E7         Am
Derry down, down, down derry-down.