Ratcliffe Highway
Traditional:
courtesy of www.SailorSongs.com
As I was a-walking down Wapping
I stepped into Ratcliffe Highway
And there I went into an alehouse
To spend all that night and next day
Two charming young girls sat beside me
They asked if I'd money to sport
Bring a bottle of wine change a guinea
I see you are one of the sort
The bottle was placed on the table
With glasses for every one
When I asked for the change of my guinea
She gave me the verse of a song
The old woman she flew in a passion
And placed her two hands on her hip
Saying - Young man you don't know our fashion
You think you're on board of your ship
If that is your fashion to rob me
It's a fashion I don't much admire
So tip me the change of my guinea
Or a broadside into you I'll fire
The bottle that stood on the table
I quick at her head did let fly
And down on the ground she did tumble
And loudly for mercy did cry
The gold watch that hung on the mantel
I into my pocket did slip
And darn my old shoes didn't I trick her
And soon got aboard of my ship
Our anchor being weighed at our bow boys
Our tops'ls being well sheeted home
We soon bid adieu to fair London
And all the flash girls in the town
The author of this website has put a lot of time and effort into gathering the greatest collection of sea shanties for the world to enjoy - There are songs that have been to sung to a job of work at sea for many, many years and collecting them has been a great endeavour. - Roger Chartier has made the effort out of his own interest and the requests that he has gotten to do this work from fellow musicians who wanted a good source of sea shanties to draw on and learn from. He has been told that for this effort he is a remarkable man.
