Penguin Eggs

It's of a fair and handsome girl, she's all in her tender years
She fell in love with a sailor boy and it's true that she loved him well
For to go off to sea with him, like she did not know how
She longed to see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O

So she bargained with a young sailor boy, it's all for a piece of gold
Straighway he led her all down into the hold
Saying I'll dress you up in sailor's clothes, your jacket shall be blue
You'll see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O

Now, when the other sailors heard the news, they fell into a rage
And with all the whole ship's company, they were willing to engage
Saying "We'll tie her hands and feet me boys, overboard we'll throw her
And she'll never see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O."

Now, when the captain he's heard the news, well he too fell into a rage
And with his whole ship's company he was willing to engage
Saying "She'll stay all in sailor's clothes, her collar shall be blue
She'll see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O."

Now when they came down to Canada, scarcely above half a year
She's married this bold captain, who called her his dear
She's dressed in silks and satins now, and she cuts a gallant show
She's the finest of the ladies down in Canadee-I-O

Come all you fair and tender girls, wheresoever you may be
I'd have you follow your own true love when he goes out on the sea
For if the sailors prove false to you, well the captain he might prove true
To see the honour that I have gained by the wearing of the blue

Willie sits in his stable door
And he's combing his coal-black steed
And he's doubting on fair Margaret's love
And his heart began to bleed
"Give corn unto my horse, mother
And meat to my man John
And I'll away to fair Margaret's bower
Before the night comes on."

"Oh stay at home with me, dear Willie
Oh stay at home with me
And the very best cock in all the roost
For your own supper shall be."
"It's all your cocks in all your roosts
I value not a pin
But I'll away to fair Margaret's bower
Before the night sets in."

"If you go to fair Margaret's bower
Without the leave of me
In the deepest part of the Clyde water
Then drowned you shall be."
"Oh the good steed that I ride upon
Cost me thrice thirty pounds
And I'll put trust in his swift feet
To take me safe and sound."

Fifty-six I sailed on board
A ship called Byron One
She's carried trawler men on deck
And a harpoon whaling gun

Oh you trawler men, come on
Forget your snapper and your prawn
For it's out of Ballina we'll sail
Fishing for the humpback whale

A tractor for a whale winch
And the ship's an old Fairmile
Twin diesels turn the screws around
She'll whale in a fine old style

Oh you trawler men, come on
Forget your snapper and your prawn
For it's out of Ballina we'll sail
Fishing for the humpback whale

Keep a sharp look-out me lads
The whale he's on the run
And we'll drive him into Byron Bay
And we'll shoot him with our guns

Oh you trawler men, come on
Forget your snapper and your prawn
For it's out of Ballina we'll sail
Fishing for the humpback whale

How the winter blizzards blow, and the whaling fleet's at rest
Tucked in Leigh harbor's sheltered bay, safely anchored ten abreast
The whalers at their stations, as from shed to shed they go
Carry little bags of coal with them, and a little iron stove

In that wee dark engine room
Where the chill seeps through your soul
How we huddled round that wee pot stove
That burned oily rags and coal

The fireman Paddy worked with me on the engine stiff and cold
A stranger to the truth was he - there's not a lie he hasn't told
And he boasted of his gold mine, and of all the hearts he'd won
And his bonny sense of humor shone just like a ray of sun

In that wee dark engine room
Where the chill seeps through your soul
How we huddled round that wee pot stove
That burned oily rags and coal

We labored seven days a week, with cold hands and frozen feet
Bitter days and lonely nights making grog and having fights
Salt fish and whalemeat sausage, fresh penguin eggs a treat
And we trudged along to work each day through icy winds and sleet

In that wee dark engine room
Where the chill seeps through your soul
How we huddled round that wee pot stove
That burned oily rags and coal

Courting is a pleasure
Between my love and I;
And it's down in yon green valley
I'll meet her by and by

It was down in yon green valley
She is my heart's delight:
"Molly, lovely Molly
I will stay till broad daylight."

Going to church last Sunday
My true love she passed me by
I knew her mind was altered
By the roving of her eye

Well I knew her mind was altered
To a lad of high degree:
"Molly, lovely Molly
Your looks have wounded me."

Up came her love Willy
With a bottle in his hand
Saying, "Drink this, lovely Molly
For our love will never stand."

Saying, "Drink this, lovely Molly
Let the bottle flask go free
Ten guineas I'll wager
That married we ne'er shall be."

All sailors all come lend an ear, come listen to me song
A trick of late was played on me and it won't detain you long
I come from sea the other day and a girl I chanced to meet
Oh me friends will be expecting me to a dance in Barrack Street

I said "My young fair maid, I cannot dance so well"
"Besides I am to Windsor bound where are me friends do dwell"
"In to see the party, as I've saved up thirty pounds"
"Me friends will be expecting me this night in Widsor town"

"Well if you cannot dance me love then you will stand a treat"
"Have a glass or two of brandy and a something for to eat"
"At six o'clock this evening I'll meet you off the train"
"So don't forget to give a call when you come to town again"

At eight o'clock that evening, then, the drinking did begin
And when we all had drunk our fill the dancing did begin
Me and me love danced all around to a merry tune
She says, "Me dear, let us retire to a chamber alone"

So dancing being over and to bed we did repare
And there I fell fast asleep the truth I will declare
Me darling with me thirty pounds gold watch and chain had fled
Left me here poor Jack alone, stark naked in bed

So I looked all around me and there's nothing I could spy
But a woman's shirt and apron all on the bed did lie
I wrung me hands and tore me hair crying oh what shall I do?
Fare thee well, sweet Windsor town, I'm sure I'll never see you

Shotover River, your gold it's waning;
And it's years since the colour I've seen
But it's no use just sitting and Lady Luck blaming
I'll pack up, then I'll make the break clean

Farewell to the gold that never I found
Goodbye to the nuggets that somewhere abound;
For it's only when dreaming that I see you gleaming
Down in the dark, deep underground

It's nearly two years since I left my old mother
For adventure and gold by the pound
And with Jimmy the prospector - he was another
And to the hills of Atago we were bound

Farewell to the gold that never I found
Goodbye to the nuggets that somewhere abound;
For it's only when dreaming that I see you gleaming
Down in the dark, deep underground

Well we worked the Cardrona's dry valley all over
Old Jimmy Williams and me
They were panning good dirt on the winding Shotover
And so we headed down there just to see

Farewell to the gold that never I found
Goodbye to the nuggets that somewhere abound;
For it's only when dreaming that I see you gleaming
Down in the dark, deep underground