Combing The Mane

Combing The Mane appears on the Sid Kipper album Boiled In The Bag.

I sailed on a Yankee clipper ship,

With a hey, and a ho, together;

To the Barbary coast we took a trip,

And isn't it awful weather?

With many a close shave we sailed wide,

We trimmed and set our sails beside;

Oh our success looked cut and dried;

With a hey, and a ho, and a wash and go,

As we combed the Spanish Mane.

There was Pigatail Pete and Razor Ruff,

With a hey, and a ho, my wee friends;

There was young Al Opecia and old Dan Druff,

And anything for the weekend?

Our brave hands from none would cringe,

We teased the Dutch and the Celtic fringe,

And the King of Spain, his beard we singed;

With a hey, and a ho, and a wash and go,

As we combed the Spanish Mane.

Now our captain's name was Cut-throat Tarquin,

Hey, ho, blue bonnets,

And we would have dyed any colour for him,

And would you like something on it?

The ugliest customer brought no fear,

From female cabin boy to old blue beard -

Until we met with a bald privateer;

With a hey, and a ho, and a wash and go,

As we combed the Spanish Mane.

"Ahoy", he cried, "You livery lot",

With a hey, and a ho, brown trousers;

"An appointment now with me you've got,

And I'm ready for to do you now, Sir".

We lowered our cutters and raised a froth,

His crew we cut with blades aloft,

And that bald privateer, we polished him off;

With a hey, and a ho, and a wash and go,

As we combed the Spanish Mane.

Now the Cut Above is our brigantyne,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey now;

She's the finest ship of the whole Hair Line,

And be sure and have a nice day now.

With magazines of the highest grade,

Without a fear we'll ply our trade,

Until the final parting's made;

With a hey, and a ho, and a wash and go,

As we combed the Spanish Mane.

Copyright Chris Sugden, 1993.