With the wind old Mother Carey,
Yo ho oh!
Churns the sea to make her dairy:
Yo ho oh!
When you see a storm a-brewin’,
That is Mother Carey’s doin’:
When you see Mother Carey’s chickens,
Then look out to catch the dickens!
When you hear the icebergs rattle,
Those are Mother Carey’s cattle:
When you see them split—a-halving,
Then Mother Carey’s cows are calving:
When you see a flying fish,
Lose no time but make your wish:
Irish pennons when they’re flying,
Set old Mother Carey crying:
When the sea-gulls dip for slush,
Mother Carey stirs the mush:
When one sea-gull follows you,
Mother Carey soon makes it two:
When the sea-gulls fly by two,
Soon good luck will come to you:
When the sea-gulls fly by threes,
Soon you’ll have a spanking breeze:
If seven follow you into port,
There the sailors’ll have good sport:
When a rope trails in the water,
That is Mother Carey’s garter:
When the clouds are red as roses,
Those are Mother Carey’s posies:
If you want to win your Mary,
Throw out a biscuit to Mother Carey: