Stan Rogers

The Wreck Of The Athens Queen

Stan Rogers


We were drinking down to Reedy's house 
When first we heard the blow
It seemed to come from Ripper Rock
So boldly forth we go

And, sure enough, a rusty tub 
Could just be barely seen 
As her stern was high up in the air 
We made out "Athens Queen"

Oh, the lovely Athens Queen

Me boys, I must remind you, 
There's a bottle left inside
So let us go and have a few 
And wait until low tide 

And if the sea's not claimed her 
When the glasses are licked clean
We will then set forth some dories, lads,
And see what may be seen 

On the lovely Athens Queen

Some songs and old tall stories then 
Came out to pass the time
Nor could a single bottle 
Keep us all until low tide

And so it was before we left 
The house we were at sea 
So I scarcely can remember 
How we made the Athens Queen

Oh, the lovely Athens Queen

Oh the waves inside me belly 
Were as high as those outside
And though I'm never seasick,
I lost dinner overside

T'was well there was no crew to save 
For we'd have scared 'em green
We could scarcely keep ourselves 
From falling off the Athens Queen

Oh, the lovely Athens Queen

Well, Reedy goes straight down below 
And comes up with a cow
"Hello", I said, "now what would you 
Be wantin' with that now?"

"You'll never take a cow home 
In a dory on such seas!"
"Well me son, he says I've always fancied 
Fresh cream in me tea

'Fore the lovely Athens Queen."

I headed for the galley, then, 
As I was rather dry
And glad I was to get there quick 
For what should I espy?

Oh what a shame it would have been 
For to lose it all at sea
Forty cases of the best Napoleon 
Brandy ever seen

On the lovely Athens Queen

I loaded twenty cases, boys, 
Then headed for the shore 
Unloaded them as quick as that 
And then pulled back for more

Smith was pulling for the shore 
But he could scarce be seen
Under near two hundred chickens 
And a leather couch of green

From the lovely Athens Queen

Well, here's to all good salvagers 
Likewise to Ripper Rock
And to Napoleon brandy of which 
Now we have much stock

We eat a lot of chicken 
And sit on a couch of green 
And we wait for Ripper Rock 
To claim another Athens Queen

Oh, the lovely Athens Queen