The STORM,
Or the, Dangers of the Sea
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CEase rude boreas blustring railer,
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List ye landsmen all to me,
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Mess-mates hear a Brother Sailor,
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Sing the dangers of the sea,
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From bounding billows, first in motion
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When the distant Whirlwinds rise,
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To the tempest troubled ocean,
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Where the seas contend with skies.
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Hark the Boatswa[i]n hearsly bawling.
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By topsail-sheets, and haulyards stand,
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Down top gallants quick be hawling,
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Down your stay-sails, hand boys,
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Now it freshens, set the braces,
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The top sail-sheets, now let go.
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Luff, boys luff, dont make wry faces.
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Up your top-sails nimbly clew.
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Now all you on, down beds sporting,
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Fondly lockd in beautys arms;
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Fresh enjoyments, wanton courting.
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Safe from all but loves alarms;
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Round us roars the tempest louder;
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Think what fears our minds enthrall,
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Harder yet, it yet blows harder,
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Now again the boatswain calls!
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The top-sail yards point to the wind boys,
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See all clear to reef each course,
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Let the foresheet go, dont mind boys.
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Tho the weather should be worse.
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Fo[r]e and aft the spritsail yard get,
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Reef the mizen, see all clear,
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Hands up, each preventer brace, set,
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Man the foreyard, cheer, lads, cheer
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Now the dreadful thunder roaring,
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Peal, on peal contending clash,
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On our heads fierce rain falls pouring
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In our eyes blue lightning flash
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One wide water all around us,
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All above us one black sky,
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Defferent deaths at once surround us
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Hark, what means that dreadfull cry.
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The foremasts gone! cries every tongue out,
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Oer the lee, twelve feet bove deck;
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A leak beneath the chest trees sprung out,
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Call all hands to clear the wreck.
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Quick the lanyards cut to pieces,
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Come my hearts be stout and bold;
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Plumb the well, the leak encreases,
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Four feet water in the hold.
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While oer the ship, wild waves are beating.
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We for wives, or children mourn;
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Alass, from hence theres no ret[r]eating.
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Alass, from hence theres no turn.
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Still the leak is gaining on us,
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Both chain, pumps are choakd below:
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Heavn have mercy here upon us
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For only that can save us now.
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Oer the lee beam is the land boys,
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Let the guns oer board be thrown.
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To the pump come evry hand boys: See our mizen mast is gone.
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The leak weve found, i[t] cant pour fast,
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Weve lightend her a foot or more
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Up and rigg a jury foremast,
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She rights, she rights, boys, wear off shore
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Now once more on joys were thinking
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Since kind fortune savd our lives;
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Come, the can boys, lets be drinking.
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To our sweet hearts and our wives,
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Fill it up about ship wheel it,
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Close to our lips a brimmer join.
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Wheres the tempest now, who feels it,
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Now, the dangers drown in wine.
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