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DREADNAUGHT

(learned from A.L.Lloyd album)

staff with melody

There is a flash packet, flash packet of fame;
She hails from New York and the Dreadnaught's her name;
She's bound to the westward where the stormy winds blow;
Bound away in the Dreadnaught to the westward we'll go;
    Derry down, down, down, derry down.

Now the Dreadnaught she lies in the river Mersey,
Awaiting the tugboat to take her to sea,
At around the Rock Light where the salt tides do flow;
Bound away to the westward in the Dreadnaught we'll go;
    Derry down, down, down, derry down.

Now the Dreadnaught's a-howling down the wild Irish Sea,
Her passengers merry with hearts full of glee,
As sailors like lambs walk the deck to and fro;
She's the Liverpool packet, o Lord, let her go;
    Derry down, down, down, derry down.

Now the Dreadnaught's a-sailing th'Atlantic so wide,
Where the highroading waves roll along her black side,
With her sails tautly set for the red cross to show;
She's the Liverpool packet, o Lord, let her go;
    Derry down, down, down, derry down.

Now a health to the Dreadnaught and all her brave crew,
To bold Captain Samuels, his officers, too;
Talk about your flash packets, Swallowtail and Blackball--
The Dreadnaught's the flier that outsails them all;
    Derry down, down, down, derry down.

(from miriam berg's folksong collection)