33 - Fire Marengo

Words by Traditional
Tune by Traditional

Screwing cotton was one of the hardest tasks aboard ship: using jackscrews to compress and force bales of cotton into the hold until they were packed solid. There's no consensus on what 'Marengo' means.

Lift him up and carry him along
Fire Marengo, fire away!
Stow him down where he belongs
Fire Marengo, fire away!

Ease him in and let him lay
Fire Marengo, fire away!
We’ll screw him down and there he’ll stay
Fire Marengo, fire away!

Stow him down in the hold below
Fire Marengo, fire away!
Screw him down and then we’ll go
Fire Marengo, fire away!

When I get back to London town
Fire Marengo, fire away!
I’ll pass my line to pretty Sally Brown
Fire Marengo, fire away!

Screw the cotton, screw him down
Fire Marengo, fire away!
Bound away from Hilo Town
Fire Marengo, fire away!

Thought I heard the old man say
Fire Marengo, fire away!
That’s one last turn and then belay
Fire Marengo, fire away!