Gunner Joe-Stanley Holloway

[ti:Gunner Joe] [ar:Stanley Holloway] [al:The Best of Stanley Holloway] [by:] [offset:0] [00:00.00]Gunner Joe - Stanley Holloway [00:06.78]I'll tell you a seafaring story [00:08.85] [00:09.42]Of a lad who won honour and fame [00:11.64] [00:12.23]Wi nelson at battle trafalgar [00:14.60]Joe moggeridge that were his name [00:17.39] [00:18.04]He were one of the crew of the victory [00:20.30] [00:20.89]His job when a battle begun [00:22.92] [00:23.70]Was to take cannon balls out of basket [00:26.39] [00:27.09]And shove 'em down front end of gun [00:29.54] [00:30.44]One day him and nelson were boxing [00:33.34] [00:34.02]The compass like sailor lads do [00:36.49] [00:37.07]When ardy comes up wi a spyglass [00:39.48] [00:40.11]And pointing says ere take a screw [00:43.21] [00:44.27]They looked to were ardy were pointing [00:47.27]And saw lots of ships in a row [00:49.29] [00:50.04]Joe says abrupt like but respectful [00:53.06] [00:53.83]Oratio lad yon's the foe [00:56.48] [00:57.77]What say we attack 'em says nelson [01:00.42]Says joe nay lad not today [01:03.02] [01:03.98]And ardy says aye well let's toss up [01:06.30] [01:07.11]Oratio answers okay [01:09.42] [01:10.70]They tossed it were heads for attacking [01:13.13] [01:13.76]And tails for tother way bout [01:15.75] [01:16.66]Joe lent them his two headed penny [01:18.66] [01:19.20]So the answer was never in doubt [01:21.38] [01:22.42]When penny came down ead side uppards [01:25.03] [01:25.68]They was in for a do it were plain [01:27.73] [01:28.49]And joe murmered shiver me timbers [01:30.92] [01:31.71]And nelson kissed ardy again [01:34.00] [01:34.96]And then taking flags out of locker [01:37.45] [01:38.23]E strung out a message on high [01:40.33] [01:41.10]T were all about england and duty [01:43.40] [01:44.06]Crew thought they was ung out to dry [01:46.54] [01:47.71]They got the guns ready for action [01:49.74] [01:50.53]And that gave 'em trouble enough [01:52.43] [01:53.10]They adn't been fired all the summer [01:55.21] [01:55.88]And touch holes were bunged up wi fluff [01:58.73] [01:59.74]Joe's cannon it weren't alf a corker [02:02.58] [02:03.28]The cannon balls went three foot round [02:05.55] [02:06.37]They wasn't no toy balloons either [02:09.30]They weighed close on sixty five pound [02:12.36] [02:13.21]Joe selecting two of the largest [02:15.74] [02:16.54]Was going to load double for luck [02:18.60] [02:19.26]When a hot shot came in thro the porthole [02:22.03]And a gunpowder barrel got struck [02:24.39] [02:25.60]By gum there weren't alf an explosion [02:28.82] [02:29.41]The gun crew were filled with alarm [02:31.63] [02:32.52]As out of the porthole went joseph [02:34.73] [02:35.35]Wi a cannon ball under each arm [02:37.64] [02:38.55]At that moment up came the boat swine [02:41.56] [02:42.41]He says where's joe gunner replied [02:45.75] [02:46.49]E's taken two cannon balls with 'im [02:49.06]And gone for a breather outside [02:51.39] [02:52.36]Do you think he'll be long said the boat swine [02:55.01] [02:56.11]The gunner replied if as ow [02:58.63]E comes back as quick as e left us [03:00.91] [03:01.58]E should be ere any time now [03:03.51] [03:04.50]And all this time joe treading water [03:07.54] [03:08.11]Was trying is ardest to float [03:10.35] [03:11.17]E shouted thro turmoil of battle [03:13.53] [03:14.27]Tell someone to lower a boat [03:16.54] [03:17.69]Ed come to the top for assistance [03:19.60] [03:20.37]Then down to the bottom he'd go [03:22.31] [03:23.11]This up and down kind of existence [03:25.42] [03:26.06]Made everyone laugh except joe [03:29.00] [03:30.31]At last e could stand it no longer [03:32.49] [03:33.19]And next time e came to the top [03:35.14] [03:35.93]E said if you don't come and save me [03:38.40] [03:38.95]I'll let these ere cannon balls drop [03:41.36] [03:42.97]T were nelson at finish who saved him [03:45.27] [03:45.79]And e said joe deserved the vc [03:48.16] [03:49.17]But finding e adn't one andy [03:51.10] [03:51.69]E gave joe an egg for is tea [03:53.88] [03:54.85]And after the battle was over [03:57.20] [03:57.76]And vessel was safely in dock [03:59.82] [04:00.58]The sailors all saved up their coupons [04:03.87]And bought joe a nice marble clock