Classic Poem

The George-Aloe , and the Sweepstake , too,
With hey, with hoe, for and a nony no ,
O, they were Merchant-men, and bound for Safee
And alongst the Coast of Barbary .

The George-Aloe to anchor came
With hey, etc.
And the jolly Sweepstake kept on her way
And alongst, etc.

They had not sayled leagues two or three,
With hey, etc.
But they met with a French Man-of-War upon the Sea,
And alongst, etc.

All haile, all haile, you lusty Gallants,
With hey, etc.
Of whence is your fair Ship, and whither are you bound?
And alongst, etc.

We are Englishmen, and bound for Safee,
With hey, etc.
Of whence is your fair Ship, and whither are you bound?
And alongst, etc.

Amaine, Amaine, you gallant Englishman,
With hey, etc.
Come you French Swads, and strike down your sayle,
And alongst, etc.

They laid us aboard on the Starboard side,
With hey, etc.
And they overthrew us into the Sea so wide,
And alongst, etc.

When tidings to the George-Aloe came,
With hey, etc.
That the jolly Sweepstake by a Frenchman was ta'en,
And alongst, etc.

To top, To top, thou little Ship-boy,
With hey, etc.
And see if this French Man-of-War thou canst descry,
And alongst, etc.

A Sayle, a Sayle, under our lee,
With hey, etc.
Yea, and another under her obey,
And alongst, etc.

Weigh anchor, weigh anchor, O jolly Boat-swain,
With hey, etc.
We will take this Frenchman, if we can,
And alongst, etc.

We had not sayled leagues two or three,
With hey, etc.
But we met the French Man-of-War upon the Sea,
And alongst, etc.

All haile, All haile, you lusty Gallants,
With hey, etc.
Of whence is your faire Ship, and whither are you bound?
And alongst, etc.

O, wee are Merchant-men and bound for Safee,
With hey, etc.
Ay, wee are French-men, and war upon the sea,
And alongst, etc.

Amaine, Amaine, you English Dogges,
With hey, etc.
Come aboard, you French rogues, and strike down your sailes.
And alongst, etc.

The first good shot that the George-Aloe shot,
With hey, etc.
He made the Frenchman's heart sore afraid,
And alongst, etc.

The second shot the George-Aloe did afford,
With hey, etc.
He struck their Main-mast over the board,
And alongst, etc.

Have mercy, have mercy, you brave English Men,
With hey, etc.
O, what have you done with our Brethren on shore,
As they sayled in Barbarie?

We laid them aboard the Starboard side,
With hey, etc.
And we threw them into the Sea so wide,
And alongst, etc.

Such mercy as you have shewed unto them,
With hey, etc.
Then the like mercy shall you have again,
And alongst, etc.

Wee laid them aboard the Larboard side,
With hey, etc.
And wee threw them into the Sea so wide,
And alongst, etc.

Lord, how it grieves our hearts full Sore,
With hey, etc.
To see the drown'd Frenchmen swim along the shore,
And alongst, etc.

Now gallant Seamen all, adieu,
With hey, etc.
This is the last Newes I can write to you,
To England's Coast from Barbarie .