The most famous refrain in chanties.Note: I have not bowlderized these verses. The Congo River, "Holy Joe, the darky lover" and his load of "black sheep," and many other parts are references to slaving. Like whaling: it happened. The sailors at the time were more ambivalent about slaving than they were about whaling.
Blow, Boy, Blow
CHORUS
Blow winds, and blow forever,
Blow me down the Congo river.
Was you ever down the Congo River?
Blow, boys, blow!
Where fever makes the white man shiver.
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
A Yankee ship comes down the river,
Blow, boys, blow!
A Yankee ship with a Yankee skipper,
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
How do you know she's a Yankee clipper;
Blow, boys, blow!
Her masts and yards they shine like silver.
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
And how do you know she's a Yankee liner;
Blow, boys, blow!
By the Stars and Stripes streamin' out behind 'er.
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
And how do you know she's a Yankee packet;
Blow, boys, blow!
'Cause her guns are all firin' a hell of a racket.
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
And how do you know she's a Yankee cutter;
Blow, boys, blow!
By the blood and guts rollin' in her scupper.
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
Who do you think is captain of her?
Blow, boys, blow!
Old Holy Joe, the darky lover.
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
What do you think she's got for cargo?
Blow, boys, blow!
Why, "black sheep" that have run the embargo.
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
What do you think they had for breakfast?
Blow, boys, blow!
The starboard side of an old sou-wester.
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
What do you think they had for dinner?
Blow, boys, blow!
Belayin' pin pie and a trip through the wringer.
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
What do you think they had for supper?
Blow, boys, blow!
Belayin' pin pie and a roll in the scupper!
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS
O, blow today and blow tomorrow,
Blow, boys, blow!
Blow me from this ship of sorrow.
Blow, my bully boys, blow!
CHORUS