Sailor's Alphabet - Fairport Convention

A’s for the anchor that lies at our bow

B’s for the bowsprit and the jibs all lie low

C’s for the capstan we all run around

D’s for the davits to lower the boat down

Merrily, merrily

So merry sail we, no mortal on earth like a sailor at sea

Heave away, haul away, the ship rolls along

Give a sailor his grog and there’s nothing goes wrong

E’s for the ensign that at our mast flew

F’s for the forecastle where lives our crew

G’s for the galley where the salt junk smells strong

And H for the halyards we hoist with a song

Merrily, merrily

So merry sail we, no mortal on earth like a sailor at sea

Heave away, haul away, the ship rolls along

Give a sailor his grog and there’s nothing goes wrong

I’s for the eyebolts, no good for the feet

J’s for the jibs, boys, stand by the lee sheet

K’s for the knighthead where our petty officer stands

L’s for the leeside, hard found by new hands

Merrily, merrily

So merry sail we, no mortal on earth like a sailor at sea

Heave away, haul away, the ship rolls along

Give a sailor his grog and there’s nothing goes wrong

M’s for the mainmast, it’s stout and it’s strong

N’s for the needle that never points wrong

O’s for the oars of our old jolly boats

And P’s for the pinnace which lively do float

Merrily, merrily

So merry sail we, no mortal on earth like a sailor at sea

Heave away, haul away, the ship rolls along

Give a sailor his grog and there’s nothing goes wrong

Q’s for the quarterdeck where our officer stands

R’s for the rudder that keeps the ship in command

S is for the stunsells that drive her along

And T’s for the topsail, to get there takes long

Merrily, merrily

So merry sail we, no mortal on earth like a sailor at sea

Heave away, haul away, the ship rolls along

Give a sailor his grog and there’s nothing goes wrong

U’s for the uniform, mostly worn aft

V’s for the vangs running from the main gaff

W’s for water, we’re on a pint and a pound

And X marks the spot where old Stormies had drowned

Merrily, merrily

So merry sail we, no mortal on earth like a sailor at sea

Heave away, haul away, the ship rolls along

Give a sailor his grog and there’s nothing goes wrong

Y’s for the yardarm, needs a good sailor man

Z is for Zoe, and I’m her fancy man

Z’s also for zero in the cold winter time

And now we have brought all the letters in rhyme

Merrily, merrily

So merry sail we, no mortal on earth like a sailor at sea

Heave away, haul away, the ship rolls along

Give a sailor his grog and there’s nothing goes wrong