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Farewell and adieu to you, noble hearties
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain
I’ve received my orders for to sail for the Deadman
But I hope with the Grand Fleet to see you again
I have hove my ship to, main topsail aback, boys
I have hove my ship to, for to strike soundings clear
The black scud aflyin’, by God’s blessing damn me
Right up the channel for the Deadman I’ll steer
I have worried through waters that are called the doldrums
I’ve growled at Sargasso that clogs while ye grope
Blast my eyes but the lightship is hid by the mist, boys
Flying Dutchman–odd bobbs–off the Cape of Good Hope!
But what’s this I feel fanning my cheek, Matt?
The white gooney’s wing–land ho–’tis the Cape!
Give my kit to the mess, Jock, for kin none is mine none
And tell Holy Joe to avast with the crepe
“Dead reckoning” says Joe “it won’t do to go by”./ But they doused all the light, Matt, in sky t’other night.
Dead reckoning is good for to sail for the Deadman
And Tom Deadlight, he thinks he may reckon near right

Tom Deadlight
Music by Ted Porter, words unknown