All For Me Grog

Vice Admiral Sir Edward Vernon, England's hero of the 1739 War Of Jenkins's Ear, was nicknamed Old Grog because of an impressive grogam cloak he wore on deck in all weather. In 1740 half the punishments handed down by the British Navy involved drunkenness. Old Grog issued an order that rum be diluted with water, 1/2 pint rations, split to be given 6 hrs apart. The song All for me Grog was collected by Kidson and Moffat from a Yorkshire sailor and published in English Peasant Songs in 1929. Found most commonly in tradition in England, also occasionally in Canada and Australia. Roud lists one example found in Scotland, but none from Ireland. Helen Creighton has a version from Nova Scotia which she titles "Western Ocean" in her 'Songs & Ballads from Novia Scotia'.

All For Me Grog

(It's) all for my grog, me jolly, jolly grog.
All for me beer and tobacco.
For I’ve spent all me tin with the lassies drinkin gin
Now across the western ocean I must wander

Now where is me shirt, me noggin', noggin' shirt,
All gone for beer and tobacco.
The sleeves are all worn out and the collar's flying about
and the tail is looking out for better weather.

And where are me pants, me noggin', noggin' pants?
All gone for beer and tobacco.
For the knees are all worn out and the seat is flying about
And me fly is looking out for better weather.

And where are me boots, me noggin', noggin' boots?
All gone for beer and tobacco.
For the heels are knocked about and the soles are flying about
And the toes are looking out for better weather.

And where is me bed, me noggin', noggin' bed?
All gone for beer and tobacco.
For I lent it to a whore, now the mattress is all wore
And the springs are looking out for better weather.

And where is me wife, me naggin', naggin' wife?
All gone for beer and tobacco.
Well her clap is all worn out, and her clap are knocked about
And her clap is looking out for better weather.

Well, I'm sick in the head and I haven't been to bed
since I came ashore with me plunder
I see centipedes and snakes, and I'm full of pains and aches
Now I'll make a push for way out yonder.