From Edward B Trumbull, Salem, Massachusetts

Sources: The James Madison Carpenter Collection AFC 1972/001 MS pp. 00349-51, 09211

Trumbull shipped in 1868, learned this song 1868-74.

1. In the naval action once engaged
   We fired away like fun
   With a round of grape and canister shot
   We slaughtered everyone
   When the fight was over we mustered hands
   A stranger mustered too
   And although he was on board of our ship
   He was not one of our crew.Chorus:
   To my title fo rol, de rol, de rol
   To my tittie fo rol de ray
   To my tittie fo rol, de rol, de rol
   To my tittie fo rol de ray.
2. Hello said the captain, how can this be?
   How did you come on board?
   But there he stood and scratched his head
   And never uttered a word
   Until an old tar who was standing by
   Said there is no denying
   From the bow gun of our enemy’s ship
   I saw the beggar come flying.
3. We christened him in a tub of grog
   ‘Tom Pepper’ we named him.
   He drank up all the grog he could get
   No sailor did blame him.
   He ate more beef than all the crew
   So upon one fine day
   We rammed him home in our bow-gun
   And fire the beggar away.
4. After cruising many a year
   I took a trip in a barque
   And while becalmed upon the line
   We caught a monstrous shark
   And in this shark there was a brig
   With provisions she was stored
   Among the beef this bloody old thief
   Tom Pepper was on board.
5. He soon cleared the decks and lockers too
   Of everything he saw
   And all the beef there was on board
   Would not ease his hungry jaw
   For fear of famine we should be
   We dragged him up on deck
   And overboard we threw poor Tom
   With a grind-stone around his neck.
6. After cruising many a year
   I thought I would cruise no more
   And since I’d got some money saved
   I thought I would stop on shore.
   While crossing over London Bridge
   Amongst a lot of old wives
   I saw Tom Pepper behind the fence
   A-grinding old scissors and knives.
7. Hello, said I, How can this be
   I thought you fast asleep
   With a carpenter’s grindstone round your neck
   Moored in the ocean deep.
   Said he, Not liking much my berth
   And being inclined to roam
   I slipped my cable and took a passage
   Upon the grindstone home.