19 - Cape Cod Girls

Words by Traditional
Tune by Traditional

This was likely used as a long haul or halyard shanty. It's a variant on 'South Australia'. The named town could be substituted for the name of another fishing town, should the sailors wish the song's jokes to be at someone else's expense.

Cape Cod girls ain’t got no combs

Haul away, haul away

They comb their hair with codfish bones

And we’re bound away for Australia
So heave away, my bully, bully boys
Haul away, haul away
Heave away, why don’t you make some noise
And we’re bound away for Australia

Cape Cod kids ain’t got no sleds
They slide down the hills on codfish heads

Cape Cod men ain’t got no ale
They fill their glasses with codfish tails

Cape Cod folk ain’t got no ills
Cape Cod doctors give 'em codfish pills

Cape Cod mothers don’t bake no pies
They feed their kids on codfish eyes

Cape Cod cats ain’t got no tails
They got blown off by the northeast gales