Shanghai Jack

(Words by: Mary Garvey – Tune by: Chris Glanister – Performed by: Chris Glanister – Song Notes)

LYRICS
There’s a man over yonder called Shanghai Jack
He can send you to sea and you won’t come back
Rolled up in a carpet or a gunney sack
Stay away from Shanghai Jack

Shanghai Jack runs a fine saloon
He wants your custom and he wants it soon
You can run up a tab from night til noon
Stay away from Shanghai Jack

Shanghai Jack he loves the ladies
He likes them prim and he likes them shady
One named Flora and one named Sadie
Stay away from Shanghai Jack

Shanghai Jack has a big trap door
Cut right into the barroom floor
It will drop you down to the river shore
Stay away from Shanghai Jack

Ah, ya been shanghaied, too scared to pray
You’re out to sea for many the day
Just where is Shanghai, anyway?
Stay away from Shanghai Jack

This town is named after John Jacob Astor
If you get shanghaied it will be a disaster
His goons move quick, so you move faster
Stay away from Shanghai Jack

So watch your back and don’t get drunk
Or you’ll get locked up a bosun’s trunk
And thrown on the deck with a big kerplunk
Stay away from Shanghai Jack
Stay away from Shanghai Jack

NOTES

• Words by Mary Garvey
• Tune by Chris Glanister
• Performed on CD by Chris Glanister

Return to CD Track List