Homage to an unsung and underpaid group of East Anglian heroes who, when England’s population was booming at a time of unprecedented economic growth between the end of the Elizabethan period and the Industrial Revolution, sailed north through hell and high water to the arctic circle and brought back the cheap nutritious foodstuff a growing nation needed. And precious little thanks they had for it.

The Mayor he sits in Norwich town
Eating his snow-white cod
‘This fair meat of the northern wastes
Is English as our God.

We need a fleet to bring it home
To feed our growing nation
Of salts who sail close to the wind
And closer to starvation.’

The frozen price of Iceland cod
Is Norwich Market cheap
But the rising tax on catch and salt
Makes tar and fishwife weep.

Oh these chippy men of Nelson’s breed
Who braved the northern seas
They paid the highest price of all
And the meanest price received.

The Iceland fleet sails north in March,
Great ships of forty men,
The doughtiest hearts in England’s shores
From Eastern shire and fen.

Such crews as drive the men of war
To English Victory
Cured by these waves, the saltest men
Who ever put to sea.

Fierce winds and tides have blocked for weeks
Their course through Pentland Firth,
The nearest place to death and hell
On all God’s Christian earth.

Oh these chippy men of Nelson’s breed
Who braved the northern seas
They paid the highest price of all
And the meanest price received.

And the Danish King sits like a storm
That broods upon a shore:
‘Six miles off Iceland you must toss
Nor trade nor fish there more!’

‘No time, sea-lads, for those native cures
And cods hung out to dry,
Our summer catch is steeped in salt
To keep it from the fly

And salt is taxed at rising rates
By Oliver’s excise
And ten score cod per loaded ship
His officers will prise.’

Oh these chippy men of Nelson’s breed
Who braved the northern seas
They paid the highest price of all
And the meanest price received.

Widows and traders who keep afloat
These ventures seal their loan
With a premium more than twice the mean
For so many come not home.

O long the Jack Tar’s journey home
And deep the briny ocean
And toothsome was the bone-white cod
That fed a hungry nation.

And long the Norfolk[11]fishwives stand
With wood combs in their hair
In August at the water’s edge
When fish nor men appear.

Oh these chippy men of Nelson’s breed
Who braved the northern seas
They paid the highest price of all
And the meanest price received.

© Gareth Calway 2015 published in the Poppyland volume "Doin Different" https://www.poppyland.co.uk/products/B79622
credits
from Done Different 2, released March 11, 2024
Tune by folk rock maestro Tim Chipping arr Peacock's Tale. Picture of one of the East of England wharfs (here, Lynn) where the wives would have waited for the cod fishers to return, or not.

The Cod Fishers

facetiming in the shower stalls 
is fucking crazy
theres hella guys that go in here
and you know they butt ass naked
dont act like you didn't know
bro youre testing my patience 
i know you went to boot camp
we all did so just save it
why you fuckin up the vibe for everyone
i know im the only other person here for now
but i know you can hear the shower head is on
and i know you saw my feet
in these rubber slides
splashing in the water
yet you face time
theres something wrong with you like deep inside
what you gonna do if they catch cheek
or worse yet they catch a peek
at my one inch deek
im like buenos dias
im a grower not a shower
and i dont want em to see it
so whoever on the other side of that phone
should be ashamed
face timing a sailor who dont give a fuck
bout his shipmates
hes fuckin lame

shitbags arriving
shitbag sailors arriving

piss test got us pissed bet
typing this, that
missed class
expect me to aim
i got my wrists wet
folas tik tok leaked
more views than a poop deck
react to it too fast
somebody left the group chat
im true sat
like the day after friday
ddo i need one now
ask me how much ill pay
more than an uber downtown
on a high way
you know theres construction going on
so thats a high rate
will i do something important
i may
or ill sleep in on my rack
still smiling
shitbag officer
arriving

shitbags arriving
shitbag sailors arriving

shitbags: arriving

Set forth and sail the northern seas with these tunes.

Drunken Sailors - 3 Versions

By the Shore

Icy Passage

just 5 hours and 59 minutes
just a little bit longer

too many service members
rushing my desk at one time
ood talking bout which presidents more pro tax
rover come back right now gotta shit so bad
i could feel my ass prolapse
plus now im getting real thirsty
everyones going out im working 
dude just turned 22
wish you could come thru
me too
fuck you happy birthday
lets keep the line moving
sign on the line goofy
don't make me chop you on the neck
like a crime movie
you wanna rush hour
process by talking crazy
ill jackie chan you to the back
of the line baby
it didnt used to be
like this
MOOW
used to just sit
watch to make sure you don't fuck up
write your destination and your number
when you exit from the Essex
hit different
shits just different
everything changed when the gooner nation
arrived
tell me why they found used condoms
in the laundry room
now we muster outside
all the purges pissed off the nmti's
no one gets lib til the purges get signed
got me sick and tired of waiting
for lib to get dropped
then it drops
at 2155

4 hours and 45 minutes
just gotta get through
just a little bit long

this watch is killin me
better get some BZs
oops i mean Beegees
cos im staying alive
wish i took a nap before watch
shoulda tried
farragut
delta
deck 2
say hi
Moers can I use the 1MC
quarterdeck
p-way
say it back to me
so i could be like
attention to the ship
all shitbags please
lay to the quarter deck
expedite that shit
right now
find MOOW #3 some how
imma crash out
if you're late to relieve me
for chow

1 hour and 20 minutes
just gotta get through
just a little bit longer

who the fuck signed out a phase 3
on the phase 2 sheet
tryna sign this chick out
don't play me
its been like 15 minutes
can't hear myself think
crying on the quarter deck
someones loud ass baby
finally found the page
one line the other one
phase 1's late again
of course someones hella drunk
back talking to the ood is crazy work
but no ones getting under my skin
won't go berzerk
in fact im feeling so zen
imma be off this watch in ten
no crash outs for me my friend
nothing can phase me
dap you up when i leave of course
only 10 more

10 more minutes til my watch is over
just gotta get through
just a little bit longer
can't wait til my relief takes over
better not be late when you take over

MOOW pt. 1

get fucked up
getting drunk
getting home late as fuck
everyone
in the head
throwing up
doing our thing
phone got broke
i need a smoke
seven thirtys when i woke
what did i do last night
maybe i started a fight
they cancelled my fucking ride
no i have nowhere to hide
can't find brown
did he die
no hes good
hes alive

how much did you drink
not enough not enough
bottles got some more
pour it up pour it up

asking brown
did i die?
no im just fucked up tonight
country girl
by my side
trying to figure out what she likes
too much liquor
down my throat
i dont know
where to go
shes leaving marks all on my neck
and choking me
til im out of breath
i know my brains
not at the wheel
but i know great
is how we feel
i love the homies
and thats real

how much did you drink
not enough not enough
bottles got some more
pour it up pour it up

whats her name
i dont remember
looking for
a service member
whats your rack
and room number
sorry but
im going under
woods is tired
hes depressed
yo get him up off her chest
lets get home
get in bed
this night really was the best

how much did you drink
not enough not enough
bottles got some more
pour it up pour it up

Jhay's Day (Get Fucked Up)

heading to bed
after last call
i hope you realize
that i didn't sleep at all
i tried to tell you
but you wouldn't let me speak
you're the one that i want
you're the one that i need
wanna catch some z's
but my eyes are wide awake
girl you're so rare
you're how i like my steak
was a wild night
ya it ain't even that late
ya you lured me in and
i was caught by the bait because

you drive my crazy
you look so amazing
you got me dreaming
and i can't sleep
you got me wheezing
your smiles so pleasing
i feel so steezy
i can't sleep

yo
i can't sleep and i don't wanna
you the deed and i'm the owner
what i need is what i'm wanting
and that's you
whether that's bottom or the top
once we go we never stop
put her body in a Y
then i ask the girl why not
let's get hotter than a summer
got her thoughts thinking wonders
i'm a genie a cave
make her wish not wonder woman
lets not ever wake up from this dream
i love the sights and all the scenes
daydreaming of making movies
with you my queen
on the tv screen
waking up to a sex summit
all i know is the sex something
no matter how good i give it
you always take it the best woman
lay back down right on that bed
she spread her legs i give her head
my dome hunting she moan something
but what she said went overhead
so amazing it drives me crazy
happy days with my lady
lifes a danger she came and saved me
love her grace and how she graced me
sick and tired of trying to sleep without you
doubt i ever wanna be without you
if i dreamed id dream about you
reality is a dream without you

you drive my crazy
you look so amazing
you got me dreaming
and i can't sleep
you drive me crazy
your look so amazing
you got me dreaming
and i can't sleep

can't sleep

feel like im going crazy
girl im feeling so lazy
the way you move is making me wild
dark hair paired
with those eyes
feel likes a big disguise
is it too good to be true
and

girl
don't you dare fall in love

mesmerized by that smile 
when we talk it's worth while 
am i falling for you
i love the way you talk now
hate to see when you walk out
when i don't know what to do

youre memorized by the ice on my wrist
im memorized by your lovely eyes
so much i feel i can memorize these lines
i know it's not the game 
but i'm really tryna change
if i wanna keep this going 
do i give you everything
i really wanna trust you
but im left with these scars
so if i see it thru
can you hold me in your arms
can you check if im alright
can you protect me from harm

girl
don't you dare fall in love

it's a thin line
walk it like you talk it
girl ya so dam fine
judging upfront
i kno you like it from behind
let me fill ya cup
and drink me up ya fine wine
don't change ya mind
cuz i
didn't grant it
unless u planning
to fly that bomb
and cum nuke my planet
u can call me clark kent
u my lois lane
tell me do u get the picture
cuz Im outta frame
i could eat that kitty cat like a great dane
& make ya wetness dry asf even in the rain
let's get naked
give it or take it
I'll take it miss
and there's no mistaking
I'm positioned
to give whats's missing
know you miss it
that miss is giving
fill ya mind space wise
wit the stars above
when we finally outta space
just don't fall in love

girl
don't you dare fall in love

fallin love

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A marriage (and we are actually married, 45 years so far) of melody and rhythm. We do folk, indie, Americana, Norfolk noir, beat poems &  ghazals. Traditional tunes with contemporary beats. Music videos  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb8wV0-DNiFs1R5G2VSytBQ
Maz lead & harmony vocals, acoustic guitar. Gaz vocals, voice, bass, drums & percussion, harmonium, recorders, lyre harp, field recordings.

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