Shug’s Shanty
‘Och Ah’m back in the roarin forties
Where the icebergs float so free
Ah’m back in the roarin forties
Where the wind still never does be
Where the penguins they do a-chatter
And there’s plenty of squid in the sea
Ah’m back in the roarin forties (and fifties!)
Where there’s nary a bin to see
Och it blows from Kerguelen to Weddell
Patagonia to Tasman Hobart
Cape Horn tips Tierra del Fuego
The storms don’t half make your beak smart
The wind it hurls you a’ tumbling
Of repose it’s never in need
In the roarin old forties and fifties
It’ll toss you like ragged seaweed
Och Ah’m back in the roarin forties …
Etc. etc.
Och there’s Adelie and Emperors and Chinstraps
Macaroni, Rockhoppers, Gentoo
Flying about neath them growlers
And having a crafty old poo
Mortal foe is the old sea leopard
Who’ll chomp them if given the chance
Comes at you with teeth all a’ glistenin
Later you’ll ‘ave change your pants
Och Ah’m back in the roarin forties …
Etc. etc.
On a floe a there’s a merman singin:
‘I’d kill for a pint of krill’
Amongst the icebergs ringin
As I topped the blue waves spill
So I caromed across to join him
Startlin petrels tap-dancing a’ free
But a spermy whale spout threw him about
And the merman was lost to me
Och Ah’m back in the roarin forties …
Etc. etc.
Hear the tune whistled:
Shug: Wandering Albatross.
Abode: no fixed. Age: uncertain. Dependability: dubious.
Favourite saying: ‘Keep your whallopin heed doon!’
