I'll Tell You a Tale...

It was a dark and stormy night, and the captain said to his mate, 'Mate, tell us a story.' and this is the story. It was a dark and stormy night, and the captain said to his mate, 'Mate, tell us a story.'...you get the picture!

Well it is a very dark and very stormy night, we have snow forecast for the weekend, and the sound of the wind outside put that little ditty in my head. Is ditty the right word, or does a ditty have to have a tune? Anyway the next little ditty has a tune.

When we were kids my Dad used to sing or recite us bedtime 'dittys' including that top one which always made us laugh. I am sure he used to put on a pirates voice although that could just be my imagination. It seemed as if he did and it added great atmosphere to the moment.

Shortly after remembering 'It was a dark and stormy night' I found myself humming this one which I have not thought of for years and was a favourite of mine.

I'll tell you the tale of the Nancy Lee, the ship that got shipwrecked at sea
The bravest man was Captain Brown, 'Cause he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

All the crew was in despair, some rushed here and some rushed there,
But the Captain sat in the Captain's chair, and he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

The Captain said to Seaman Jones: "You'd best put on your working clothes
While you stand and spray your hose I can play me ukulele as the ship goes down."

All the crew was in despair, some rushed here and some rushed there,
But the Captain sat in the Captain's chair, and he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

The owners signalled to the crew, saying: "Do the best that you can do.
We're only insured for half-a-crown, we'll be out of pocket if the ship goes down."

All the crew was in despair, some rushed here and some rushed there,
But the Captain sat in the Captain's chair, and he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

The Captain's wife was on board ship, and he was very glad of it
But she could swim and she might not drown so we tied her to the anchor as the ship went down.

All the crew was in despair, some rushed here and some rushed there,
But the Captain sat in the Captain's chair, and he played his ukulele as the ship went down.

The crow's nest fell and killed the crow, the starboard watch was two hours slow
But the Captain sang fal-oh-de-oh-doh and he played his ukulele as the ship went down

All the crew was in despair, some rushed here and some rushed there,
But the Captain sat in the Captain's chair, and he played his ukulele as the ship went down.