I'm only a sailor man — tradesman would I were,
For I've ever rued the day I became a tar;
Rued the rambling notion, ever the decoy
Unto such an awful life. Board of Trade, ahoy!
I snubb'd skipper for bad grub, rotten flour to eat,
Hard tack full of weevils; how demon chandlers cheat!
Salt junk like mahogany, scurvying man and boy.
Says he, 'Where's your remedy?' Board of Trade, ahoy!
Can ye wonder mutiny, lubber-like, will work,
In our mercantile marine, cramm'd with measly pork?
Is it wonderful that men lose their native joy,
With provisions maggoty? Board of Trade, ahoy!
Oh had we a crew to stand by when we're ashore,
Show this horrid stuff that pigs even would abhor!
Sue the swindling dealer who'd our health destroy.
What say ye, oh sailor friends? Board of Trade, ahoy!
Dutchmen here before the mast, and behind it too!
Dutchmen mate and carpenter, Dutchmen most the crew!
Foreigners to man our ships, horrible employ!
What's old England coming to? Board of Trade, ahoy!