- The Anchor Watch

Words by Cecily Fox Smith
Tune by Daniel Kelly

Be aware of the sixth line in each verse (it's not 'Blow boys blow') and the additional line in the final verse.

O shipmates as you lay sleeping
Blow, boys, blow!
Across the world the day came creeping
Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!
With a cold wet wind the shrouds were shaking,
And in all the port was no one waking,
In the morning watch and the grey dawn breaking
Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!

I saw a ship come down the river
Blow, boys, blow!
In the morning light her sails did shiver
Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!
I saw the sun on her royals gleaming
And her gilded trucks in the dawn a-gleaming,
And the bubbled foam of her bow-wave streaming —
Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!

I heard the gulls all round her calling
Blow, boys, blow!
I heard the watch on the braces hauling
Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!
I heard their voices over the water —
‘O Shenandoah, I love your daughter’ —
And the dash o’ the tide on her weather quarter
Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!

Then like a cloud she broke and lifted
Blow, boys, blow!
Her spars did melt, her sails they drifted
Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!
And all that I saw was a white mist flying,
All that I heard, the grey gulls crying,
And the tide’s sob and the wind’s sighing
And one far call out of dreams replying
Blow, boys, bully boys, blow!