A stands for anchor, it's the fisherman's hope.
It's a very good thing with a chain or a rope,
To ride out the storm and keep time with the tide,
In his beautiful craft, which he watches with pride.
B stands for binnacle, which is close to hand,
When steering his craft far, far from the land.
To the grounds which he knows are oft covered with fish,
That get him a living and make some people rich.
C stands for the capstan, the crew at it work,
And woe to the lad who his duty do shirk.
For the captain is blunt and he thinks it no sin,
To give him the sack without any tin (money).
D stands for darkness, through which he must go
On cold winter nights, in rain, frost or snow,
When dangers are rife and fill landsmen with dread,
Even when they are snug in a warm cosy bed.
E stands for eke out the bread, beef and tea,
'Waste not' is the motto when sailing at sea.
For when you are hundreds of miles from the shore
It is hard to replenish an impoverished store.
F stands for fish, a most cheery sight.
Let them be caught in the day or the night,
And those who do catch them with net or with line,
God bless their toil, and send them plenty of prime.
G stands for gaff which is attached to the sail,
To hold it smart in calm or in gale.
So up with the peak and hold her a-luff,
To steer a smack well, you must not be a muff.
H stands for hatchway which leads to the hold,
Where they carry tackle, water and coal.
And ballast to make her stand up to the breeze,
Top carry her over gigantic seas.
I stand for ice, a most useful thing,
It enables fishermen his catches to bring
For many a league from his own native home
Where fickle fortune compels him to roam.
J stands for Jack, oft a fisherman's name,
But they christened him John, though that was too tame.
He spends his good money quite free on the shore,
Then to sea he will go for to earn him some more.
K stands for keel, of timber so strong,
Which stretches from stem to sternpost along,
And never, no never, your smack to keep sound,
She never should touch on any hard ground.
L stands for lamps both red and green glass,
To prevent sad collisions when vessels do pass.
So keep them well trimmed to make them burn bright,
Then you shipmates below will sleep more safe at night.
M stands for moon; it's the fisherman's joy.
He is as pleased with its rays as a child with a toy.
For it lightens his path and makes the fish sport
And gladdens his heart as to market they are brought.
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N stands for north, the compass card round
If you raise it up beneath will be found -
A small bar of steel and a lodestone as well,
Always points to the pole and acts like a spell.
O stands for oyster, a most expensive treat,
And if you buy natives you will vouch they are sweet.
They are a dish for the king and will nourish the brain,
So once you have tasted them you will try them again.
P stands for port when sailing at sea,
Whether close hauled or with the wind free.
It's the rule of the road and an excellent plan,
To use the port helm whenever you can.
Q stands for quick sands, a most dangerous place,
That gets lots of skippers in a shocking disgrace.
Do look out for the lightship and cast over the lead,
This hint then may save you from sorrow and dread.
R stands for rigging, which holds up the mast
When carrying sails before the rude blast.
So give her the sheet, it's a lowering sky
And to see bonny Kate tonight we will try.
S stands for stars, those heavenly flames,
Though only a few fishermen boast of astronomer's fame.
But they can point to Orion and Saturn and Day,
Yonder is the Pole Star, cross the Milky Way.
T stands for tacking, get ready about.
“Hard down with the helm”, the skipper will shout.
“Ease off the jib sheet, your bowline stand by.
There goes the Bold Admiral to catch him we'll try.”
U stands for Union Jack, if you please.
A flag that we love to see float on the breeze.
It's a fisherman's hope, where e'er he may roam,
It reminds him of kindred and loved ones at home.
V stands for vane, so trim and so smart,
'Tis a guide to the eye and a pride to the heart.
To hoist up gay colours of every hue,
With a smart, active, willing, wide awake crew.
W stands for windlass, the crew as they shy
To heave in the cable, the bobstay and guy.
Ship your handspikes together, sing a merry song,
With hands that are light and arms that are strong.
X is a letter hard to bring in,
That every seaman should learn to swim.
Then if by misfortune you fall in the sea,
What an excellent thing this letter might be!
Y stands for yarn that an old tar can spin
To his shipmates below before they turn in,
Of adventures at sea, or freaks on the shore
That would cause you to wonder or laugh till you roar.
Z stands for zero in winter so cold,
This letter reminds you my tale is now told.
So clear up fishermen friends on the main,
God guide us to sea, bring us safe home again.
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