THE LITTLE SHIP

Have your forgotten the ship love

I made as a childish toy,

When you were a little girl love,

And I was a little boy?

Ah! never in all the fleet love

Such a beautiful ship was seen,

For the sides were painted blue love

And the deck was yellow and green.

I carved a wonderful mast love

From my Father’s Sunday stick,

You cut up your one good dress love

That the sail should be of silk.

And I launched it on the pond love

And I called it after you,

And for the want of the bottle of wine love

We christened it with the dew.

And we put your doll on board love

With a cargo of chocolate cream,

But the little ship struck on a cork love

And the doll went down with a scream!

It is forty years since then love

And your hair is silver grey,

And we sit in our old armchairs love

And we watch our children play.

And I have a wooden leg love

And the title of K. C. B.

For bringing Her Majesty’s Fleet love

Over the stormy sea.

But I’ve never forgotten the ship love

I made as a childish toy

When you were a little girl love

And I was a sailor boy.