Jack the Guinea Pig

DESCRIPTION: "When the anchor's weigh'd and the ship's unmoored, And the landmen lag behind, sir, The sailor... prays for a wind, sir!" The singer compares sailors, who brave every danger, with landsmen who get sick, go below, and despair at sea
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1948 (Shay)
KEYWORDS: sailor bragging humorous nonballad
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Shay-AmericanSeaSongsAndChanteys, pp. 132-135, "Jack the Guinea Pig" (1 text)
Stone-SeaSongsAndBallads XXXVII, pp. 54-55, "Jack the Guinea-Pig" (1 text)
NOTES [23 words]: I could imagine sailors singing this, since it certainly flatters their courage, but based on the evidence, I rather doubt they did. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.2
File: ShaSS132

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography