BLOW THE MAN DOWN

As I was a-rolling down Paradise Street
Way, hey, blow the man down
A flash looking packet I chanced for to meet
0, give me some time to blow the man down.

CHORUS: 
And it's blow the man down bullies, blow the man down 
Way, hey, blow the man down
Blow him right back into Liverpool town
0, give me some time to blow the man down.

She was round in the counter and bluff at the bow (Way, hey etc)
So 1 says to her "Maggie, way enough now"(Oh, give me some time etc.)

She was bowling along with the wind blowing free, 
She clewed up her courses and waited for me.

Of the port that she hailed from I cannot say much 
But the cut of her jib and I knew she was Dutch

I hailed her in English, she answered me clear
"I'm from the Black Arrow, bound for the Shakespeare"

Well, I tipped her me flipper and took her in tow, 
And yardarm to yardarm away we did go '

Oh, i packed up my sea chest and sailed the next day 
For on that flash packet I'd spent all my pay.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was the classic tops'l-halyard shanty of the Western Ocean Packet Rats. Several versions exist, probably the most popular with the sailor being the one in which he chases a "flash packet" up Paradise street in the sailor quarter of Liverpool

Midi Sequence Credit - Barry Taylor