The Three Sailor Boys

 

Oh, we’re three jolly, jolly sailor boys,

And we’re newly home from South Amerikee,

With our hearts still tingling with the salt, salt wind

And the tumble and tossing of the sea.

Oh, honey, we’ve our pockets full of money,

Will you trip, trip, trip, will you trip it on the Quay,

For the wind’s in the sail and the thunder in the gale

And our good ship plunging to be free.

 

There were three pretty girls in merry Portsmouth town,

And each one was like a posy on the tree.

There was great-eyed Margaret and trim-set Sal,

And sweet Kitty from the north country.

No, honey, tho’ your pocket’s full of money,

We won’t trip, trip, trip, we won’t trip it on the Quay,

Till you’ve set the clerk a-singing, and the wedding bells a-ringing

And the parson has pocketed the fee.

 

Then up we spoke, we jolly sailor boys,

All arm in arm so jolly for to see.

“There are girls beside the water at Janeiro or Gibraltar

Who can dance as right merrily as ye;”

So honey, while our pocket’s full of money,

Come and trip, trip, trip, come and trip it on the Quay,

For we sailors love the ocean and the change, and the commotion

And the good ship plunging on the sea.

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Words and music by Theophilus Marzials (1850-1920)

Tune found in Heart Songs: Melodies of Days Gone By

Published in 1909