Ocean Liner from Going Overboard by Bounding Main

Ocean Liner
Maritime-themed Song
Barry Skipsey

Click here to read Skip’s letter to us regarding Ocean Liner.

When I was a’fishing up in the Gulf,
Out on the open sea,
I think of those pretty girls back on shore,
And wish that they were out here with me.

Chorus:
So step on board (step on board) the ocean liner,
Step on board without delay, me lads.
Step on board, there’s nothing finer,
And together we’ll sail away.

Well I made up me mind to follow the waves,
Hearing of good returns.
And the very next morning I found myself prawning,
And me stomach it began to churn. (Chorus)

Working twenty-bloody-four hours a day,
With me eyes hanging out of me head.
Twenty-fours hours barely making a wage,
And wish that I was bloody-well dead. (Chorus)

Well I’m a long way from mother up here in the gulf,
A long way from family.
And I’m a bloody long way from being a sailor,
That my mother oh so wanted me to be. (Chorus)

Well the Captain’s a big man, he stands so high,
His head’s nearly touching the rigging.
And the crew they’re all druggos and they’re so high,
I think they’ve left the land of the living. (Chorus)

Well we’re catching and shelling and sorting prawns,
Till they bloody-well come out of our ears!
And the cook gives me the chills in more ways than one,
And I think I’m on my very last run. (Chorus x2)

• Folk
• maritime
• sea shanty
• work song
• Chicago