On Board A Man-Of-War

This traditional song, sometimes known as The Pressgang, was collected in two places. AL Loyd says, on the sleeve notes of a Mike Waterson recording “Sharp heard it, or three verses of it, in a Herefordshire workhouse (the workhouse was a great place to find singers in his day). Jack Moeran noted a fuller version at Winterton Norfolk, and that's the one Mike bases his performance on. Moeran's singer was James Sutton, nicknamed 'Old Larpin', from whom the great Sam Larner learnt a boatload of songs.” Waterson's version varies slightly from Moeran, his source probably being Ewan MacColl, who recorded it earlier on the album "The Manchester Angel."

On Board A Man-Of-War

Well as I were a-walking a London street
A press gang there I chanced to meet
They asked me if I'd join the fleet
On board a Man-of-War boys
On board a Man-of-War


Said I brother shipmates, tell me true
What kind of treatment they gives to you
That I may know before I go
 
Well the first thing they did they took me in 'and
They flogged me with the tar of a strand
They flogged me till I could not stand
 
Then they 'ung me up by my two thumbs
Then they flogged me till the blood did run
And that's the usage they gave to me
 
Well I 'ad a wife and 'er name was Grey
'T were 'er that led me to shocking delay
'T were 'er that caused me to go away
 
Ah but if ever I get me feet on shore
To see them London girls once more
I'll never go to sea anymore