Hell's Pavement
By John Masefield
"When Im discharged at Liverpool n draws my bit o pay,
I wont come to sea no more;
Ill court a pretty little lass n have a weddin day,
N settle somewhere down shore;
Ill never fare to sea again a-temptin Davy Jones,
A-hearkening to the cruel sharks a-hungerin for my bones;
Ill run a blushin dairy-farm or go a-crackin stones,
Or buy n keep a little liquor-store"
So he said.
They towed her in to Liverpool, we made the hooker fast,
And the copper-bound official paid the crew,
And Billy drew his money, but the money didnt last,
For he painted the alongshore blue,
It was rum for Poll, and rum for Nan, and gin for Jolly Jack;
He shipped a week later in the clothes upon his back;
He had to pinch a little straw, he had to beg a sack
To sleep on, when his watch was through,
So he did.