26 - Fall Down Billy O'Shea

Words by Traditional
Tune by Traditional

This shanty tells the common story of being pressed. Between 1664 and 1814, impressment was used to fill the crews of British navy ships. Any man between 18 and 55 with sailing ability could be pressed into service by the Navy Impressment Service, known as 'The Press Gang'. The punishment for refusing was hanging. Having attempted to plead that they are non-sailors, the captain whips Billy O'Shea up the rigging, where his lack of topsman ability soon leads to his early demise. The cat referred to is the cat o' nine tails.

We all got drunk in Dublin city
Fall down me Billy
We all got drunk, sure more’s the pity
Fall down Billy O’Shea

Fall down, fall down, fall down me Billy
We’re bound away for Americay
Fall down Billy O’Shea

We lay ourselves down on Sir Rogerson’s Quay
Fall down me Billy
And when we woke we were out to sea
Fall down Billy O’Shea

Fall down, fall down…

We are not sailors captain dear
Fall down me Billy
We come from the land and we won’t work here
Fall down Billy O’Shea

Fall down, fall down…

Says the captain, “I’ve a cure for that”
Fall down me Billy
“And here for a start is a dose of the cat”
Fall down Billy O’Shea

Fall down, fall down…

Well sent him up to the top-mast yard
Fall down me Billy
And when he hit the deck, well he took it hard
Fall down Billy O’Shea

Fall down, fall down…

So we wrapped him in the Captain’s sail
Fall down me Billy
And lowered him gently o’er the rail
Fall down Billy O’Shea

Fall down, fall down…

Over the side and down he goes
Fall down me Billy
Down to Davy Jones with a stitch through his nose
Fall down Billy O’Shea

Fall down, fall down…

Oh and as he went I heard him say
Fall down me Billy
I thought we were bound for Americay
Fall down Billy O’Shea

Fall down, fall down…