Music Midi MC - On Deck
Blood Red Roses

Words & music traditional

It's up aloft the yard must go!
Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
'cause Mr. Mate he told us so!
Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!

    O ye pinks an' poses.
    Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
To the Davis Strait we're bound to go!
Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
'cause that is way the whalefish blow!
Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
    O ye pinks an' poses ...
My aged mother wrote to me,
Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
My dearest son, come from the sea,
Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
    O ye pinks an' poses ...
The Old Man scuppered all with fare,
Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
He's got horns and tail like Lucifer.
Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
    O ye pinks an' poses ...
Oh, you more pause than other do,
Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
Cause we're the boys to pull 'er through.
Go down, ye blood red roses, go down!
    O ye pinks an' poses ...

"Blood Red Roses" - a halyard chantey, popular among whalers and a favorite among the crew of the floating museum "Balclutha".

Music Midi MC - On Deck