Steeleye Span Gallant Frigate Amphitrite Lyrics

The gallant frigate Amphitrite, she lay in Plymouth Sound
Blue Peter at her fore-mast head for she was outward bound
We were waiting there for orders to send us far from home
Our orders came for Rio, and thence around Cape Horn

When we arrived at Rio we prepared for heavy gales
We set up all our rigging, boys, and bent on all new sails
From ship to ship they cheered us as we did sail along
And wished us pleasant weather in the rounding of Cape Horn

While beating off Magellan Straits it blew exceeding hard
While shortening sail, two gallant tars fell from the topsail yard
By angry seas the ropes we threw from their poor hands were torn
We were forced to leave them to the sharks that prowl around Cape Horn

When we got round the Horn, me boys, we had some glorious days And very soon our killick dropped in Valparaiso Bay
Then pretty girls come down in flocks, I solemnly declare
They're far before them Plymouth girls with the long and the waving hair

They love a jolly sailor when he spends his money free
They'll laugh and sing and merry merry be and have a jovial spree
And when your money is all gone, they won't on you impose
They are not like them Plymouth girls that'll pawn and sell your clothes

Farewell to Valparaiso, and farewell for a while
Likewise to all them Spanish girls along the coast of Chile
And if ever I live to be paid off, I'll sit and sing this song
God bless them pretty Spanish girls we left around Cape Horn