The Sailor
I'd like to be a sailor - a sailor bold and bluff
Calling out, 'Ship ahoy!' in manly tones and gruff.
I'd learn to box the compass, and to reef and tack and luff;
I'd sniff and snifff the briny breeze and never get enough.
Perhaps I'd chew tobacco, or an old black pipe I'd puff,
But I wouldn't be a sailor if ...
The sea was very rough.
Would you?
poem by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The I'd like to be........ series
The Sailor
I'd like to be a sailor - a sailor bold and bluff -
Calling out, "Ship ahoy!" in manly tones and gruff.
I'd learn to box the compass, and to reef and tack and luff;
I'd sniff and sniff the briny breeze and never get enough.
Perhaps I'd chew tobacco, or an old black pipe I'd puff,
But I wouldn't be a sailor if ...
The sea was very rough.
Would you?
The Porter
I'd like to be a porter, and always on the run,
Calling out, "Stand aside!" and asking leave of none.
Shoving trucks on people's toes, and having splendid fun,
Slamming all the carriage doors and locking every one -
And, when they asked to be let in, I'd say, "It can't be done."
But I wouldn't be a porter if ...
The luggage weighed a ton.
Would you?
The Pieman
I'd like to be a Pieman, and ring a little bell,
Calling out, "Hot pies! Hot pies to sell!"
Apple-pies and Meat-pies, Cherry-pies as well,
Lots and lots and lots of pies - more than you can tell.
Big, rich Pork-pies! Oh, the lovely smell!
But I wouldn't be a Pieman if ...
I wasn't very well.
Would you?
The Barber
I'd like to be a barber, and learn to shave and clip,
Calling out, "Next please! and pocketing my tip."
All day I'd hear my scissors going, "Snip, Snip, Snip;"
I'd lather people's faces, and their noses I would grip
While I shaved most carefully along the upper lip.
But I wouldn't be a barber if ...
The razor was to slip.
Would you?
The Teacher
I'd like to be a teacher, and have a clever brain,
Calling out, "Attention, please!" and "Must I speak in vain?"
I'd be quite strict with boys and girls whose minds I had to train,
And all the books and maps and things I'd carefully explain;
I'd make then learn the dates of kings, and all the capes of Spain;
But I wouldn't be a teacher if ...
I couldn't use the cane.
Would you?
The Postman
I'd like to be a postman, and walk along the street,
Calling out, "Good Morning, Sir," to gentlemen I meet,
Ringing every door-bell all along my beat,
In my cap and uniform so very nice and neat.
Perhaps I'd have a parasol in case of rain or heat;
But I wouldn't be a postman if ...
The walking hurt my feet.
Would you?
The Baker
I'd like to be a baker, and come when morning breaks,
Calling out, "Beeay-ko!" (that's the sound he makes) -
Riding in a rattle-cart that jogs and jolts and shakes,
Selling all the sweetest things a baker ever bakes;
Currant-buns and brandy-snaps, pastry all in flakes;
But I wouldn't be a baker if ...
I couldn't eat the cakes.
Would you?
poem by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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How’s My Boy?
“HO, Sailor of the sea!
How’s my boy—my boy?”
“What’s your boy’s name, good wife,
And in what good ship sail'd he?”
“My boy John— He that went to sea—
What care I for the ship, sailor?
My boy's my boy to me.
“You come back from sea,
And not know my John?
I might as well have ask’d some landsman
Yonder down in the town.
There ’s not an ass in all the parish
But he knows my John.
“How’s my boy—my boy?
And unless you let me know
I’ll swear you are no sailor,
Blue jacket or no,
Brass buttons or no, sailor,
Anchor and crown or no!
Sure his ship was the ‘Jolly Briton’”—
“Speak low, woman, speak low!”
“And why should I speak low, sailor,
About my own boy John?
If I was loud as I am proud
I’d sing him over the town!
Why should I speak low, sailor?”
“That good ship went down.”
“How’s my boy—my boy?
What care I for the ship, sailor?
I was never aboard her.
Be she afloat or be she aground,
Sinking or swimming, I’ll be bound,
Her owners can afford her!
I say, how’s my John?”
“Every man on board went down,
Every man aboard her.”
“How’s my boy—my boy?
What care I for the men, sailor?
I’m not their mother—
How’s my boy—my boy?
Tell me of him and no other!
How ’s my boy—my boy?”
poem by Sydney Thompson Dobell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Land Ahoy
I've been overseas for almost a year
Any time now precious land should appear
I've been away from my lover so long
Look there matey, but I could be wrong
Oh land ahoy, land ahoy, sailor boy
(Land ahoy land ahoy Papa's toy l'ahoy)
Listen here matey, in an hour or so
We'll be sitting on the land that we know
We'll leave this ship and run to outstreched arms
And soon we'll be living with our lover's charms
Oh land ahoy, land ahoy, sailor boy
(Land ahoy land ahoy Papa's toy l'ahoy)
Listen here matey, in an hour or so
We'll be sitting on the land that we know
We'll leave this ship and run to outstreched arms
And soon we'll be living with our lover's charms
Oh land ahoy, land ahoy, sailor boy
(Land ahoy land ahoy Papa's toy l'ahoy
song performed by by Beach Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Im Popeye The Sailor Man
Im popeye the sailor man. Im popeye the sailor man.
Im strong to the finich, cause I eats me spinach.
Im popeye the sailor man.
Im one tough gazookus, which hates all palookas.
Wot aint on the up and square.
I biffs em and buffs em and always out roughs em
But none of em gets nowhere.
If anyone dares to risk my fisk, its boff an its wham unerstan?
So keep good be-hav-or, thats your one life saver
With popeye the sailor man.
Im popeye the sailor man, Im popeye the sailor man.
Im strong to the finich, cause I eats me spinach.
Im popeye the sailor man.
song performed by by Face To Face
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Song Of The Mermaid
On a day of days
I stood and gazed
Over the western sea
I was completely dazed,
Wide-mouthed and amazed
When a mermaid called to me
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Like a man in a dream,
For an age it seemed
I stood as still as a stone
While the mermaid sang
And her melody rang
Like a memory calling me home
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Then the sea and the wind
And the shores did spin
And though my resistance was strong
All the stars in space
Filled the mermaids face
As she captured my will with her song
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Somehow I spoke --
The enchantment broke
I rubbed my eyes open wide
Like a dream she was gone
All that remained was a song
Borne on the ebbing tide
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sail On Sailor
I sailed an ocean, unsettled ocean
Through restful waters and deep commotion
Often frightened, unenlightened
Sail on, sail on sailor
I wrest the waters, fight neptunes waters
Sail through the sorrows of lifes marauders
Unrepenting, often empty
Sail on, sail on sailor
Caught like a sewer rat alone but I sail
Bought like a crust of bread, but oh do I wail
Seldom stumble, never crumble
Try to tumble, lifes a rumble
Feel the stinging Ive been given
Never ending, unrelenting
Heartbreak searing, always fearing
Never caring, persevering
Sail on, sail on, sailor
I work the seaways, the gale-swept seaways
Past shipwrecked daughters of wicked waters
Uninspired, drenched and tired
Wail on, wail on, sailor
Always needing, even bleeding
Never feeding all my feelings
Damn the thunder, must I blunder
Theres no wonder all Im under
Stop the crying and the lying
And the sighing and my dying
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
song performed by by Beach Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sail On Sailor
I sail an ocean, unsettled ocean
Through restless water, and deep commotion
Often frightened, unenlightened
Sail on, sail on sailor
I wrest the waters, fight Neptune's waters
Sail through the sorrows, of life's maurauders
Unrepenting, often empty
Sail on, sail on sailor
Caught like a sewer rat, alone but I see
Bought like a crust of bread, but oh do I wail
Seldom stumble, never crumble, try to tumble, life's a rumble
Feel the stinging, I've been given, never ending, unrelenting
Heartbreaks nearing, always fearing, never caring, persevering
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
I work the seaway (I work the seaway)
The gale swept seaway, (oh seaway)
Past shipwrecked daughters, (oh daughters)
Of wicked waters
Uninspired, drenched and tired
Wail on, wail on sailor
Always needing, ever bleeding, never feeding, all my feelings
Damn the thunder, must I blunder, there's no wonder,all I'm under
Stop your cryin', and the lyin', and the sighin', and my dyin'
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
(You've got to )
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
song performed by by Jimmy Buffett
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Oh Sailor
I'm undecided about you again
I can be right that you're not here
It's double sided 'cause I ruined it all
But also saved myself
by never believing you dear
Everything good I deem too good to be true
Everything else is just a bore
Everything I have to look forward to
Has a pretty painful and very imposing before
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
Then lettin' it go by the boards*
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
Then lettin' it go by the boards
I have too been playing with fifty-two cards
Just 'cause I play so far from my vest
Whatever I've got, I've got no reason to guard
What could I do but spend my best
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
Then lettin' it go by the boards
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
Then lettin' it go by the boards
And after waiting, fighting patiently on my knees
All the other stuff tired itself out first, not me
And in it's way your pierce of touch** and call of the different breed
One of the steps is getting me wired and got me there and then got me
And what a thing to know what could be instead
Oh what a blessed curse to see
Took the agenda from the place in my bed
Made a merry paramour of me
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
Then lettin' it go by the boards
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
Then lettin' it go by the boards
song performed by by Fiona Apple
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Sailor's Observation
The sailor stood on the deck of his ship
looking out at the sea, while the sun
blazed a golden yellow hue on the horizon.
As the ship rocked side to side, the
sailor's thoughts drifted, as they
sailed into the setting sun.
"I think the sunset is the best time of the
evening," the sailor thought to himself.
The sun's glorious color reflected its'
light off the clouds and streamed through
the breaks in the clouds.
A sunset as sea is so beautiful
that it takes your breath away.
You cannot see a sunset like this
anywhere else.
Sell Out
Five cheat card thief, misled skinhead,
Tell me where its at?
Is it cool to bring it up again?
Will I blow my cat?
Misplaced tinselface, weekend pretend,
Am I on your track?
I would love to live close to you,
Could I bring my cat?
Cowgirl, sailor,
Do you know who you are?
Cowgirl, sailor,
Do you know who you are?
Do you know who you are?
Overfed premed, outfront gaspump,
Will I fix my car?
Pinch yourself when I smile at you,
Baby, Im a star!
Turned on, tuned in, cop out, sell out,
Do you know who you are?
I took the time to try to fit you in,
Was I off too far?
Cowgirl, sailor,
Do you know who you are?
Cowgirl, sailor,
Do you know who you are?
Do you know who you are?
song performed by by Neil Young
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Popeye The Sailor Man
(kinky friedman & panama red)
My heart is on my sleeve,
Do you still believe ?
Are you listenin to the tide roll in, watchin ships at sea ?
When I come sailin home again will you be there for me,
There for me ?
Treasure ships of yore
Grace the ocean floor
Columbus sailed for italy, columbus sailed for spain.
Columbus sailed a wishin well, columbus died in chains,
Died in chains.
I dont pretend to know every answer
To everything that life may ask of me.
Hey, Im popeye the sailor man
Im popeye the sailor man
Hey, popeye the sailor man
And I sail the lonely sea eternally.
My true love calls to me from far across the sea.
She says, red skies in the mornin
Sailor take warnin
Sail with me tonight
Sailors delight, sailors delight.
I dont pretend to know every answer
To everything that life may ask of me.
Hey, Im popeye the sailor man
Popeye the sailor man,
Popeye the sailor man
And I sail the lonely sea eternally.
She said, popeye the sailor man
Popeye the sailor man
Oh, popeye the sailor man
Sail on home to me, come sail with me.
song performed by by Kinky Friedman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Name Sakes
BUT where's the brown drifter that went out alone ?
-Roll and go, and fare you well-
' Was her name
Peggy Nutten?
' That name is my own.
Fare you well, my sailor.
They sang in the dark, ' Let her go ! Let her go ! '
And she sailed to the West, where the broad waters flow;
And the others come back, but . . . the bitter winds blow.
Ah, fare you well, my sailor.
The women, at evening, they wave and they cheer.
-Roll and go, and fare you well-
They're waiting to welcome their lads at the pier.
Fare you well, my sailor.
They're all coming home in the twilight below;
But there's one little boat. . . . Let her go ! Let her go!
She carried my heart, and a heart for the foe.
Ah, fare you well, my sailor.
The
Nell
and the
Maggie
, the
Ruth
and the Joan,
-'-Roll and go, and fare you well-
They come to their name-sakes, and leave me alone.
Fare you well, my sailor.
And names are kep' dark, for the spies mustn't know;
But they'll look in my face, an' I think it will show;
Peggy Nutten's my name. Let her go ! Let her go!
Ah, fare you well, my sailor.
poem by Alfred Noyes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Seadream
Pretty lady look at me
Im a sailor from the sea
I can take you anywhere
You can join me do you dare?
Like a dagger made of diamonds
In a scabbard soft as gold
I can show you pretty secrets
Human lips have never told.
And she said, sailor, come with me
Is it lonesome on the sea
Is there shelter for your head
Like the comfort of my bed?
Love is harder than a diamond
And as soft and pure as gold
And its sweet as any secret
Any sailor ever told.
Pretty lady look at me
Im a sailor from the sea
I can take you anywhere
You can join me do you dare?
Pretty lady look at me
Im a sailor from the sea.
song performed by by Kris Kristofferson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast.
quote by Leonardo da Vinci
Submitted by Catalin Popescu
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Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor
Voices: Lou Fleischer, Jack Mercer, Mae Questel, Gus Wickie
from Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor (1936)
Submitted by Ana
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Sunny Sailor Boy
On a day of days
I stood and gazed
Over the western sea
I was completely dazed
Wide-mouthed and amazed
When a mermaid called to me
Oh-wo-oh-wo-oh
Oh-wo-oh-wo-oh-wo
My sunny sailor boy
Like a man in a dream
For an age it seemed
I stood as still as a stone
While the creature sang
And her melody rang
Like a memory calling me home
Oh-wo-oh-wo-oh
Oh-wo-oh-wo-oh-wo
My sunny sailor boy
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sonny Sailor Boy (live)
On a day of days
I stood and gazed
over the western sea
I was completely dazed
wide-mouthed and amazed
when a mermaid called to me
Oh-wo-oh-wo-oh
Oh-wo-oh-wo-oh-wo
My sunny sailor boy
Like a man in a dream
for an age it seemed
I stood as still as a stone
while the creature sang
and her melody rang
like a memory calling me home
Oh-wo-oh-wo-oh
Oh-wo-oh-wo-oh-wo
My sunny sailor boy
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Soldier An' Sailor Too
As I was spittin' into the Ditch aboard o' the ~Crocodile~,
I seed a man on a man-o'-war got up in the Reg'lars' style.
'E was scrapin' the paint from off of 'er plates,
an' I sez to 'im, ''Oo are you?'
Sez 'e, 'I'm a Jolly -- 'Er Majesty's Jolly -- soldier an' sailor too!'
Now 'is work begins by Gawd knows when, and 'is work is never through;
'E isn't one o' the reg'lar Line, nor 'e isn't one of the crew.
'E's a kind of a giddy harumfrodite -- soldier an' sailor too!
An' after I met 'im all over the world, a-doin' all kinds of things,
Like landin' 'isself with a Gatlin' gun to talk to them 'eathen kings;
'E sleeps in an 'ammick instead of a cot,
an' 'e drills with the deck on a slew,
An' 'e sweats like a Jolly -- 'Er Majesty's Jolly -- soldier an' sailor too!
For there isn't a job on the top o' the earth the beggar don't know, nor do --
You can leave 'im at night on a bald man's 'ead, to paddle 'is own canoe --
'E's a sort of a bloomin' cosmopolouse -- soldier an' sailor too.
We've fought 'em in trooper, we've fought 'em in dock,
and drunk with 'em in betweens,
When they called us the seasick scull'ry-maids,
an' we called 'em the Ass Marines;
But, when we was down for a double fatigue, from Woolwich to Bernardmyo,
We sent for the Jollies -- 'Er Majesty's Jollies -- soldier an' sailor too!
They think for 'emselves, an' they steal for 'emselves,
and they never ask what's to do,
But they're camped an' fed an' they're up an' fed before our bugle's blew.
Ho! they ain't no limpin' procrastitutes -- soldier an' sailor too.
You may say we are fond of an 'arness-cut, or 'ootin' in barrick-yards,
Or startin' a Board School mutiny along o' the Onion Guards;
But once in a while we can finish in style for the ends of the earth to view,
The same as the Jollies -- 'Er Majesty's Jollies -- soldier an' sailor too!
They come of our lot, they was brothers to us;
they was beggars we'd met an' knew;
Yes, barrin' an inch in the chest an' the arm, they was doubles o' me an' you;
For they weren't no special chrysanthemums -- soldier an' sailor too!
To take your chance in the thick of a rush, with firing all about,
Is nothing so bad when you've cover to 'and, an' leave an' likin' to shout;
But to stand an' be still to the ~Birken'ead~ drill
is a damn tough bullet to chew,
An' they done it, the Jollies -- 'Er Majesty's Jollies --
soldier an' sailor too!
Their work was done when it 'adn't begun; they was younger nor me an' you;
Their choice it was plain between drownin' in 'eaps
an' bein' mopped by the screw,
So they stood an' was still to the ~Birken'ead~ drill, soldier an' sailor too!
We're most of us liars, we're 'arf of us thieves,
an' the rest are as rank as can be,
But once in a while we can finish in style
(which I 'ope it won't 'appen to me).
But it makes you think better o' you an' your friends,
an' the work you may 'ave to do,
When you think o' the sinkin' ~Victorier~'s Jollies -- soldier an' sailor too!
Now there isn't no room for to say ye don't know --
they 'ave proved it plain and true --
That whether it's Widow, or whether it's ship, Victorier's work is to do,
An' they done it, the Jollies -- 'Er Majesty's Jollies --
soldier an' sailor too!
poem by Rudyard Kipling
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Although as a sailor I despised politics - for I loved my sailor's life and still love it today - conditions forced me to take up a definite attitude towards political problems.
quote by Fritz Sauckel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Sailor and the Market Man
'I ask you to see reason'
Says the sailor who is stern;
'You know full well that from the sea
A living I must earn;
I'll bother you to shake on it,
I haven't got all day;
Come on now make your mind up,
It ain't a lot to pay! '
'My friend, your price is far too high'
The market-man declares,
'Go find another buyer now
Who'll rid you of your wares.
I know the fish you bring to sell
Are fat and fresh and sound,
But I must make a living too
By watching every pound.'
The sailor and the market-man
They argue every day,
As if there's no tomorrow,
And each must have his say.
The sailor and the market-man
At odds they'll always be,
Until they've taken all
The little fishes from the sea.
Written Dec 1994
poem by John Carter Brown
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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