Oh Charley Buff was his parents’ joy, And as he always told, He went to sea as a cabin-boy Before he was one year old.
Chorus. Now this is pretty bad, But it’ s nothin’ to what’ s a-coming: Yet Charley he was a truthful lad, And never indulged in humming.
And this Charley Buff allays said to me: “To lie I cannot afford, For you know I hev got more truth in me Than all of the rest on board.
“I have seen in the isle of Barriboo Such high-sized coco-nuts, That the natives used to split’ em in two And use’ em to make their huts.
“I hev seen the Kanaka women Foller a ship’ n full sail, A thousand miles a-swimmin’ For a bottle or a tenpenny nail.
“I hev seen the eggs of the toodly-wang; It’ s a bird in the Muldive Isles; And when they hatch they burst with a bang You can hear five hundred miles.
“From a Cariboo king named Jocko, A man of cheerful life, For only a fid of tobacco I bought me a beautiful wife.
“One night she was gone, by gum! But as soon as ever I missed her, From the king for a glass of rum I bought her younger sister.
“One evening for their tea Her family broiled and ate her; ‘ Never mind!’ says the king to me, ‘ Just go and pick out a better.’”
Chorus. Now this is pretty bad, Yet it’ s nothin’ to what’ s a-coming; But I hear the old man a bawlin’ like mad, So I guess I will stop my humming.
“Wal,” answered Brown, “that comes it rather strong. Now if you like I’ ll sing a pirate’ s song Of which you all have heard at times a bit; I’ ve jined’ em into one to make’ em fit,
Like beads upon a string, altho’ I fear It’ s partly pirate and part mutineer.”
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