Robbie Hauls with a Dead Man's Hand Behind

A Tale of the Queen Street Asylum

I woke up one evening at nine ninety-nine
Tie the man down, boys, tie the man down;
To hear someone screaming in four-quarter time;
Heave a full bucket and tie the man down.

I felt in the dark for the tag on my arm
Tie the man down, boys, tie the man down;
Thrilled to salt on my tongue as they pulled the alarm;
Heave a full bucket and tie the man down.

Haul him away, lads, and tie the man down;
No peg-leg so square he can't be turned round.
Lash him in bed with a douse of cold water and
Watch him rise up the regenerate man.

I have bunked down in steerage more times than I know
Tie the man down boys, tie the man down;
It's the sorry tar's lot to blow wild with each blow;
Heave a full bucket and tie the man down.

But such noise I've not heard as I've heard on this trip
Tie the man down, boys, tie the man down;
On the Whitby, the Clarke, or such capital ship;
Heave a full bucket and tie the man down.

Haul him away, lads, and tie the man down;
No peg-leg so square he can't be turned round.
Lash him in bed with a douse of cold water and
Watch him rise up the regenerate man.

Such a hornpipe as this is bad cess at sea;
Tie the man down, boys, tie the man down;
Sure I heard the timbers crack angrily;
Heave a full bucket and tie the man down.

And when I awoke at the sound of first bell
Tie the man down, boys, tie the man down;
I imagined I smelt a faint carrion smell;
Heave a full bucket and tie the man down.

Haul him away, lads, and tie the man down;
No peg-leg so square he can't be turned round.
Lash him in bed with a douse of cold water and
Watch him rise up the regenerate man.

And padding off softly to sit on the head
Tie the man down, boys, tie the man down;
I noticed new drapes drawn on overflow bed;
Heave a full bucket and tie the man down.

And padding back, none of my shipmates in sight
Tie the man down, boys, tie the man down;
I drew back the curtains to see things aright;
Heave a full bucket and tie the man down.

Haul him away, lads, and tie the man down;
No peg-leg so square he can't be turned round.
Lash him in bed with a douse of cold water and
Watch him rise up the regenerate man.

Every tar in his senses must fear the sea
Tie the man down boys, tie the man down;
Must fear the big wind when it blows full free;
Heave a full bucket and tie the man down.

Sure I've known my own troubles with each now and then
Tie the man down, boys, tie the man down;
But this one was killed by the captain's men.
Heave a full bucket and tie the man down.

Haul him away, lads, and tie the man down;
No peg-leg so square he can't be turned round.
Lash him in bed with a douse of cold water and
Watch him rise up the regenerate man.

-- Stephen K. Roney