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Yarrr!!!! Shiver me timbers and splice the main sail! - September 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day!To celebrate the event, we've decided to feature a sea shanty (a type of song traditionally sung by sailors) today, called "The Drunken Sailor".
Based on a traditional Irish marching band tune, the song provides a "how to" guide for waking up sailors who have consumed vast quantities of alcohol the night before and are too drunk to get up in the morning!
The lyrics to the song were first published in 1891. Many performers have recorded it over the years, but the best known version of the song is probably the one recorded by The Irish Rovers.
Time to get in the spirit, watch, and sing along!
"The Drunken Sailor" - Song Lyrics:
Introduction:
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning?
Chorus:
Way Hay! and up she rises,
Way Hay! and up she rises,
Way Hay! and up she rises,
Early in the morning
Verse 1
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Early in the morning
Chorus:
Way Hay! and up she rises
Way Hay! and up she rises
Way Hay! and up she rises
Early in the morning
Verse 2
Put him in a long boat till he's sober,
Put him in a long boat till he's sober,
Put him in a long boat till he's sober,
Early in the morning
Chorus:
Way Hay! and up she rises
Way Hay! and up she rises
Way Hay! and up she rises
Early in the morning
Verse 3
Stick him in the scuppers with a hose pipe on him,
Stick him in the scuppers with a hose pipe on him,
Stick him in the scuppers with a hose pipe on him,
Early in the morning
Chorus:
Way Hay! and up she rises
Way Hay! and up she rises
Way Hay! and up she rises
Early in the morning
Verse 4
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter,
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter,
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter,
Early in the morning
Chorus:
Way Hay! and up she rises
Way Hay! and up she rises
Way Hay! and up she rises
Early in the morning
Ending
That's what we do with a drunken sailor,
That's what we do with a drunken sailor,
That's what we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning.
Some Useful Vocabulary For Talking Like a Pirate:
Arrrrr! Awesome!
Ahoy! Hello
Ahoy, Matey! Hello, my friend
Batten down the hatches Prepare for a storm
Blow me down! Good grief! You do surprise me!
Booty treasure
Avast! Please stop doing that
Gangway! Excuse me. I need to get past, please
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! A traditional way for pirates to indicate amusement
Heave Ho! Put some effort into it!
Jolly Rodger! Name of the pirate flag
Matey My friend
Me My
Me Hearties My friends
Rum strong alcoholic beverage. The favourite drink of pirates and other sailors
Scurvy Dog a lower ranking person
Savvy? Do you understand me?
Shiver me timbers! Really? that does surprise me!
Sink me! fancy that!
There she blows! Ooh, Look! I've just spotted a whale
Three sheets to the wind: very drunk
Ye You
Yo ho ho all purpose phrase, used in pirate songs and chants.
And finally... a "talk like a pirate" pronunciation masterclass from Long John Silver, the most famous pirate of them all ;-)
Related Activities:
Free Online Listening Exercises for English Learners >>
Learn English With Songs - ESL Listening Quizzes >>
