Rounding the Horn Songtext

von Martin Simpson

Oh the gallant frigate Amphitrite, she lay in Plymouth Sound
Blue Peter stood at the foremast head, for we was outward bound
We were waiting there for orders to send us far from home
And our orders came for Rio and thence around Cape Horn
When we arrived in Rio we prepared for heavy gales
We hoisted all our rigging boys and bent on all new sails
From ship to ship they cheered us as we did sail along
And wished us pleasant weather in the rounding of Cape Horn
While beating off Magellan Straits it blew exceeding hard
While shortening sails two gallant tars fell from the topsail yard
By heavy seas the ropes we threw from their poor hands was torn
We were forced to leave them to the sharks that prowl around Cape Horn
When we got around the Horn, me boys, we had some glorious days
Very soon our killick dropped in Valparaiso Bay
The pretty girls come down in flocks, I solmenly do declare
They're far above the Plymouth girls with their long and curling hair
For they love the jolly sailor boy when he spends his money free
They'll laugh and sing and merry merry be
And have a jovial spree
When your money is all gone they won't on you impose
They are not like the Plymouth girls who will steal and pawn your clothes
So farewell to Valparaiso and farewell for a while
Likewise to the Spanish girls along the coast of Chile
If ever I live to be payed off I'll sit and sing this song
God bless the pretty Spanish girls we left around Cape Horn