Port RoyaL Rum - Streaming audio, lyrics

 Here's a "new old song" of the sea. More forebitter than shanty, it's the tale of a hardy young sailor who goes off whaling, and on his first voyage acquires "The Taste" for rum, in the Jamaican harbor town Port Royal... once considered the most evil town in the world.

It's a tragic song, as some sea songs are. For the lusty young man is now a derelict old wharf rat,  singing in a dingy port tavern (like any number of places I've played in my time!) for "scurvy sea scum"-  and begging for a swallow of... Port Royal rum!

 Listen free online. If you like it, please consider supporting my work with a digital download.

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    Port Royal Rum

    Robert Palomo

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Lyrics

Song art image - Port Royal Rum

In Port Royal town, first time arrived I
As crew to the English
Whale ship “Garmarye”
I first tasted rum in the port taverns there
And the port tavern wenches
Were buxom and fair
The port tavern wenches
Were buxom and fair

Oh life in Port Royal did appeal to me
I hated like hell to go back off to sea
The Port Royal rum called to me from afar
As I swabbed the deck,
And hoisted the spar
As he swabbed the deck,
And hoisted the spar

In Port Royal there lived
A wench named Sweet Anne
Who knew all there’s to know about pleasin’ a man
I’d call out here name, and to me she’d come
Bearing a tankard of Port Royal rum
She was bearing a tankard of Port Royal rum

After dreamin’ of Port Royal rum  in me bed
I’d stand me watch, atop the masthead
Conning the waves for the sperm whale's spout
Shiverin' I’d sneak me little old rum-flask out
Shiverin' he’d sneak his little rum-flask out

Oh the Devil’s in the bottle, Hell is in the cask
But I couldn’t see no harm in just nippin’ at me flask
So I kept on a-nippin’ ‘til one day I was caught
And I learned then the dangers with which rum is fraught
He learned then the dangers with which rum is fraught

The first mate stripped me shirt off and lashed me to the rail
Then the bosun, he lashed me with the cat-o-nine tail
They splashed rum on me back and laughed as I cried
And I wished to the Lord then and there for to die
He wished to the Lord then and there for to die

For quite a long time I was cured of me thirst
I did me best, but the Devil did his worst
If I’d never set foot more on Port Royal’s pier
I’d not be this old wharf rat that ye see here
He’d not be the old wharf rat that we see here

Yes the drink and the Devil and the years done for me
‘Tis the wreck of a once hardy sailor ye see
Croakin' songs in this tavern
For scurvy sea scum
And beggin' for one swallow
Of Port Royal Rum

In Port Royal town, first time arrived I
As crew to the English
Whale ship “Garmarye”
I first tasted rum in the port taverns there
And the Port Royal wenches
Were buxom and fair

Yes the Port Royal wenches
Were buxom and fair

Written, performed and produced by Robert Palomo. Copyright © 2014 - All rights reserved.

What folks say about "Port Royal Rum"

“A salty “rumdition” transporting the listener to another age, with an “ear worm” of a tune that allows them to quickly join in the singing.”

— Steve C. (England)

“Learned this song some years ago. Have played it live at folk club. Fully credited of course.”

— Bill F. (UK)

“I like to meet Sweet Anne!”

— Christian van B. (Netherlands)