The Reluctant Sailor

I once was a farmer I worked the land I reaped the corn With a scythe in my hand I ploughed my furrow I sowed my seed I grew my crops My family to feed One day hot and thirsty With the sun going down I went for to drink At the alehouse in town As I was a drinking There at the Inn Without any warning The press gang came in So I was taken I was taken so fast And told that my future Was before the mast So in my fields I no longer plough Instead the wide ocean I must plough now From hauling on ropes My hands are all torn Sometimes I wish I had never been born Our captains a hard man If one of us fails He'll have us flogged With a cat o' nine tails When I climb the rigging I oft times will find I think of the family That I left behind One day I'll jump ship And I'll stay on shore I'll serve the Kings navy Never no more I'll return to my loved ones I'll go back to the land Once more I will reap With my scythe in my hand I've sailed the wide oceans Seen Paris and Rome But nothing compares With my humble home Denis Briggs