There once was a ship

Традиционная китобойная баллада (Новая Зеландия, середина 19 в.), эквиритмический перевод Е. и М. Юнгер (​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wisRUNWPLM)

Простое четырёхголосие (MuseScore​, PDF​, mp3).

There once was a ship that put to sea
The name of the ship was the Billy o' Tea
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down
O blow, my bully boys, blow

Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguin’ is done
We’ll take our leave and go

She had not been two weeks from shore
When down on her a right whale bore
The captain called all hands and swore
He’d take that whale in tow

Before the boat had hit the water
The whale’s tail came up and caught her
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her
When she dived down below

No line was cut, no whale was freed
The Captain’s mind was not of greed
But he belonged to the whaleman’s creed
She took the ship in tow

For forty days, or even more
The line went slack, then tight once more
All boats were lost, there were only four
But still that whale did go

As far as I’ve heard, the fight’s still on
The line’s not cut and the whale’s not gone
The Wellerman makes his regular call
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all

---

Наш корабль отплыл вчера,
И звать его "Чай из топора".
Ветер дует, волны бьют,
И дождь как из ведра.

Эй, гребец, маши веслом,
Вези нам сахар, и чай, и ром!
Завтра мы кита забьем
И вернемся все домой.

Две недели мы плывем,
И тут кита заметил Том.
Капитан орет: "Вперёд!
Гори оно огнем!"

Как подлый тот кит хвостом махнул --
Корабль чуть не утонул.
С гарпуном под плавником
Кит на дно нырнул.

Капитан у нас лихой --
Настоящий китобой!
Трос рубить не стал, и кит
Унес нас за собой.

Сорок суток напролет
Несёт нас этот сукин кот!
Все матросы стоя спят,
А он все не уснет.

Год за годом, день за днем
Все ходит судно за китом
А гребцы в который раз
Везут нам чай и ром!