The Press Gang

As I walked out in a London street
The press gang there I chanced to meet
They asked if I would join the fleet
On board of a man-of-war, boys
On board of a man-of-war
Said aye, brother shipmates tell me true
What kind of treatment they give to you
That I may know before I go
On board of a man-of-war, boys
On board of a man-of-war
Well the first thing they did, they took me in hand
And they flogged me with the tar and the strand
Kept lashing me till I could not stand
On board a man-of-war boys
On board of a man-of-war
Then they hung me up by my two thumbs
And they flogged me till the blood did run
And thats the usage they gave to me
On board a man-of-war boys
On board of a man-of-war
Well I had a wife, and her name was Grey
T'was her that led me to shocking delay
T'was her that caused me to go away
On board a man-of-war, boys
On board of a man-of-war
But if ever I get my feet onshore
To see those London girls once more
I'll never go to sea anymore
On board a man-of-war boys
On board of a man-of-war