The Press-gang
Here’s the tender39 coming,
Pressing all the men;
O, dear honey,
What shall we do then?
Here’s the tender coming,
Off at Shields Bar.
Here’s the tender coming,
Full of men of war.
Here’s the tender coming,
Stealing of my dear;
O, dear honey,
They’ll ship you out of here,
They’ll ship you foreign,
For that is what it means.
Here’s the tender coming,
Full of red marines.
From A Sailor’s Garland.
Notes
39 tender: a boat or other small vessel, that ‘attends’ a ship with men, stores, etc.