Liverpool Judies
Lyrics and music traditional
Performed by Tourdion on Live at Stronghold

From Liverpool to Bristol a-rovin' I went,
To stay in their country was my good intent.
But drinking strong liquors like other damn fools,
Soon got me transported back to Liverpool, singin'
Roll, roll bullies, roll!
Them Liverpool Judies have got us in tow

A smart Yankee packet lies out in the bay
A-waitin' a fair wind to get under way.
With all of her sailors so sick and so sore,
They'd drunk all their whiskey and can't get no more, singin'
Roll, roll bullies, roll!
Them Liverpool Judies have got us in tow

Oh, here comes the mate in a hell of a stew.
He's lookin' for graft for us sailors to do.
Oh, it's "Fore tops'l halyards!" he loudly does roar,
And it's lay aloft Paddy, ye son o' a whore! Singin'
Roll, roll bullies, roll!
Them Liverpool Judies have got us in tow

One night off Cape Horn I shall never forget,
'Tis oft-times I sighs when I thinks of it yet
She was roundin' Cape Horn with her sailors all wet,
She was roundin' Cape Horn wid her mainskys'l set. Singin'
Roll, roll bullies, roll!
Them Liverpool Judies have got us in tow

And now we are haulin' way on to the line,
When I thinks of it now, sure, I had a good time.
Them sea-boys box-haulin' them yards all around
For to beat that flash packet called the Thatcher MacGowan. Singin'
Roll, roll bullies, roll!
Them Liverpool Judies have got us in tow

Here's a heath to the Captain where'er he may be,
A bucko on land and a bully at sea,
But as for the chief mate, that dirty ol' brute
We hope when he dies, off to hell he'll skyhoot. Singin'
Roll, roll bullies, roll!
Them Liverpool Judies have got us in tow
And it's roll, roll bullies, roll!
Them Liverpool Judies have got us in tow

Background by Daniel Womack: The earliest I can find this being recorded is by Stan Hugill on his album "Shanties from the Seven Seas" (1962). Stan was known as being the last true working shantyman. You can learn more about Stan here.