“Jack the Guinea Pig”
Description
"When the anchor's weigh'd and the ship's unmoored, And the landmen lag behind, sir, The sailor... prays for a wind, sir!" The singer compares sailors, who brave every danger, with landsmen who get sick, go below, and despair at sea
Notes
I could imagine sailors singing this, since it certainly flatters their courage, but based on the evidence, I rather doubt they did. - RBW
References
- Shay-SeaSongs, pp. 132-135, "Jack the Guinea Pig" (1 text)
- BI, ShaSS132