RFA Tide boat Songs
INNERSKILLIN TIDESURGE.
TIDESURGE SHE WAS A TANKER BORN AND BRED IN GEORDIE LAND, HER HULL CAME FROM SUNDERLAND, HER ENGINES FROM WALLSEND, MANNED BY THE MERCHANT NAVY BUT RUN BY THE ADMIRALTY, SHE PLAYED HER PART IN THE FLEET FUELLING SHIPS AT SEA,
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FARE THEE WELL VICKERS PALMER’S, FARE THEE WELL FOR A WHILE, AND ALL AROUND THE BOARDERS OF DURHAM’S FARE ISLE, AND WHEN THE TRIP IS OVER, WE'LL RETURN IN FULL BLOOM, AND SHUT DOWN IN THE DRY DOCK BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON,
TIDESURGE SHE WAS MADE READY FOR THE BREAKING OF THE DAY, FROM LOVELY DURHAM COUNTY THEY WERE SENDING HER AWAY, THEY FLASHED UP HERE THREE BOILERS, AND THEY PUT THEM ALL ON LINE, PROCEEDED DOWN BY WHITLEY BAY, OUT OF THE RIVER TYNE,
TIDESURGE SHE WAS A HAPPY SHIP IN PORT OR OUT AT SEA, THE MATES AND ENGINEERS ALL GET ON QUITE HAPPILY, AND OFTEN IN THE BAR THERE WE'LL MAKE THE RAFTERS RING, WHEN WE PICK OURSELVES UP OFF THE DECK AND EVERY MAN DOES SING,
BUT NOW THE TRIP IS DRAWING NIGH, THERE’S NOT MUCH TO SAY, LOOK YONDER OUT THE PORTHOLE WE'RE APPROACHING WHITLEY BAY, IN THREE HOURS I'LL BE PAYED OFF, FOR SOME LEAVE I HAVE THE URGE, BUT I WONT FORGET THE MONTHS THAT I'VE SPENT GRAFTING ON TIDESURGE,
BUT THEN SAD NEWS DID REACH OUR EARS FROM FAR OFF ENGLAND’S SHORE, OUR PALMER’S THEY WERE SHUTTING DOWN, REFITS THEY'D HAVE NO MORE, BUT LADS DON’T BE DOWN HEARTED, LETS JUST SAY WHAT THE HELL, AND WE'LL SHUT DOWN BY THE SILVERY MOON SOMEWHERE IN NEWCASTLE,
THEN HAROLD WILSON LOOKED OUTSIDE AND THOUGHT OF WIND AND SNOW, AND TIDESURGE STEAMING AROUND WITH NOWHERE LEFT TO GO, HE SAID WE'LL KEEP 'EM OPEN, AND WE'LL ALL STAND IN A LINE, AND WE'LL RAISE OUR CAPS AND GIVE THREE CHEERS, WHEN THE SURGE STEAMS UP THE TYNE.
Believed to be written by BARRY LOARD OF DARLINGTON.
THE OLD TIDEBOAT SONG.
I WAS GOING ON WATCH THE OTHER DAY WHEN I HEARD A HELL OF A DIN.
I SAW THERE WAS NO LUBE OIL, SO I THREW THE THROTTLES IN.
I PHONED THE CHIEF UP IN THE BAR, ABOUT HIS BEARINGS WEARING.
HE SAID BRING HER BACK UP TO 21 KNOTS, I'M TOO DRUNK TO BE CARING.
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"OH" MY LADS,YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN US GANNIN,21 KNOTS TO THE MEASURED MILE, JUST OFF THE ISLE OF ARRAN
BLACK SMOKE WAS BELCHING OUT THE FLUE, SIX FIRES IN EVERY BOILER.
A R.F.A. ALL PAINTED GREY, A FAST REPLENISHMENT OILER!
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I WENT TO PHONE THE SECOND & WENT TO START THE PUMP, I SAID WE'RE DOING 21 KNOTS WITH NO LUBE OIL IN THE SUMP
HE SCRATCHED HIS HEAD AND THEN HE SAID “WHAT A HELL OF A STATE WE'RE IN”, AND FETCHED SOME BOTTLES FROM THE BAR, AND FILLED THE SUMP WITH GIN
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WE SPED PAST St.VINCENT, THAT'S SOUTH OF FINNISTERE, AND WHEN WE GOT TO CAPETOWN. THE PROPELLER THREW OF THERE.
THE CHIEF LOST HIS SENIORITY, THE SECOND LOST HIS PAY. THE JUNIORS PUT IT ON AGAIN, AND NOW WE'RE ON OUR WAY
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A DIVER WENT DOWN THE OTHER DAY, AND CAME UP WITH A FACE SO RED.HE SAID TO TAKE ME ON THAT SHIP YOU HAVE TO TAKE ME DEAD
THE RUDDER STUCK WITH PLASTERCINE, THE PROPELLER'S STUCK WITH GLUE. THE PLATES ARE IN A AWFUL STATE, I'D PAY OFF IF I WERE YOU
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I BET MARY SHIPPHAM TO REFIT SHE WILL GO AND COME ABOARD AMISDTS THE ICE AND SNOW
I BET THAT SHE WILL ASK YOU, IF YOU'VE LEAVE TO SELL. SAY HADAWAY LASS I'M PAYING OFF AND YOU CAN GO TO HELL
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SHE'S A GREYHOUND OF THE SEAS AS SOON YOU ALL SHALL LEARN, 21 KNOTS SHE'LL DO AHEAD & 13 KNOTS ASTERN
THEY SAY WE'RE ALL MAD TO SAIL ON HERE, THEY SAY WE'RE ALL HEAD CASES, BUT SHE WILL RUN AS FAST AS ANY OLD HORSE, YOU'LL SEE AT THE BLAYDON RACES
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Mother Kelly’s Doorstep
On Victor Cooney's boilers in the boiler room there's a steam pipe blowing, we will be going there soon.
there's just an hole in the pipe an hole in the drum an hole where all the steam comes from you'll here us running down the alley.
On Victor Cooney's boilers in the boiler room
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