Gunner Joe - Stanley Holloway

作曲：Marriott Edgar

I'll tell you a seafaring story

Of a lad who won honour and fame

Wi Nelson at Battle Trafalgar

Joe Moggeridge that were his name

He were one of the crew of the Victory

His job when a battle begun

Was to take cannon balls out o basket

And shove em down front end o gun

One day him and Nelson were boxing

The compass like sailor lads do

When Ardy comes up wi a spyglass

And pointing says Ere take a screw

They looked to were Ardy were pointing

And saw lots o ships in a row

Joe says abrupt like but respectful

Oratio lad yon's the foe

What say we attack em says Nelson

Says Joe Nay lad not today

And Ardy says Aye well let's toss up

Oratio answers Okay

They tossed it were heads for attacking

And tails for tother way bout

Joe lent them his two headed penny

So the answer was never in doubt

When penny came down ead side uppards

They was in for a do it were plain

And Joe murmered Shiver me timbers

And Nelson kissed Ardy again

And then taking flags out o locker

E strung out a message on high

T were all about England and duty

Crew thought they was ung out to dry

They got the guns ready for action

And that gave em trouble enough

They adn't been fired all the summer

And touch holes were bunged up wi fluff

Joe's cannon it weren't alf a corker

The cannon balls went three foot round

They wasn't no toy balloons either

They weighed close on sixty five pound

Joe selecting two of the largest

Was going to load double for luck

When a hot shot came in thro the porthole

And a gunpowder barrel got struck

By gum there weren't alf an explosion

The gun crew were filled with alarm

As out of the porthole went Joseph

Wi a cannon ball under each arm

At that moment up came the Boat swine

He says Where's Joe Gunner replied

E's taken two cannon balls with i'm

And gone for a breather outside

Do you think he'll be long said the Boat swine

The gunner replied If as ow

E comes back as quick as e left us

E should be ere any time now

And all this time Joe treading water

Was trying is ardest to float

E shouted thro turmoil of battle

Tell someone to lower a boat

Ed come to the top for assistance

Then down to the bottom he'd go

This up and down kind of existence

Made everyone laugh except Joe

At last e could stand it no longer

And next time e came to the top

E said If you don't come and save me

I'll let these ere cannon balls drop

T were Nelson at finish who saved him

And e said Joe deserved the VC

But finding e adn't one andy

E gave Joe an egg for is tea

And after the battle was over

And vessel was safely in dock

The sailors all saved up their coupons

And bought Joe a nice marble clock