ÊYo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum
written by Robert Lewis Stevenson 1881Ê
more lyrics added by Young Ewing Allison 1891

Fifteen men on a dead manÕs chestÊ
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil be done for the restÊ
Yo hoe hoe and a bottle of rum

The mate was fixed by the bosÕnÕs pike
The bosÕnÕ brained with a markin spike and
CookeyÕs throat was marked belike It
Had been gripped by fingers ten andÊ
There they lay all good dead men like

Break oÕ day in a boozing ken...
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Fifteen men of a whole shipÕs listÊ
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Dead and be damned and the rest gone whist!Ê
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum

The skipper lay with his nob in gore where theÊ
ScullionÕs axe his cheek had shore
And the scullion he was stabbed times four andÊ
There he lay and the soggy skies
Dripped all day in up-staring eyes at
Murk sunset and at foul sur-priseÊ

Yo hoe hoe and a bottle of rum
Fifteen men of Ôem stiff and starkÊ
Yo hoe hoe crew had the murder markÊ
Yo hoe hoe and a bottle of rum

ÔTwas a cutlass swipe or and ounce of lead or aÊ
Yawning hole in a battered head
and the scuppers glut with a yawning red andÊ
There they lay aye damn my eyes
All lookouts clapped on par - a - dise all
Souls bound just con tra ri - wiseÊ
Yo hoe hoe and a bottle of rum

Fifteen men of Ôem good and trueÊ
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Every man Jack could haÕ sailed with old PewÊ
Yo hoe hoe and a bottle of rum

There was chest on chest of Spanish gold with aÊ
Ton of plate in the middle hold
And the cabins riot with stuff un told AsÊ
They lay there that had took the plum
With a sightless glare and their lips struck dumb
While we shared all by the rule of thumbÊ
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum

Fifteen men of a dead manÕs chestÊ
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the restÊ
Yo hoe hoe and a bottle of rum

We wrapped Ôem all in a mainsÕl tight withÊ
Twice ten turns of a hausers bight
And we heaved Ôem over and out of sight with aÊ
Yo heave ho and fare you well
And a sullen plunge in a sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to hellÊ
Yo hoe hoe and a bottle of rum
Out of the rolling ocean, the crowd, came a drop gently to me,
Whispering, I love you, before long I die, I have travel'd a long way, merely to look on you, to touch you,
For I could not die till I once look'd on you,
For I fear'd I might afterward lose you.
Now we have met, we have look'd, we are safe;
Return in peace to the ocean, my love;
I too am part of that ocean, my love--we are not so much separated;
Behold the great rondure--the cohesion of all, how perfect!
But as for me, for you, the irresistible sea is to separate us,
As for an hour, carrying us diverse-- yet cannot carry us diverse forever;
Be not impatient--a little space--Know you, I salute the air, the ocean and the land,
Every day, at sundown, for your dear sake, my love.
by Walt Witman