Go to Sea Once More

Go to Sea Once More is a sea shanty about a sailor who once ashore, gets very drunk and loses all his clothing and hard-earned money when a prostitute steals them. Though he has sworn to never work at sea again, this situation forces him to accept a position on a whaling ship bound for the Arctic Sea, having to endure terrible conditions such as the freezing cold. The song urges sailors to avoid strong drink and the hard lifstyle that comes with it. The exact origins of the song can be traced to the English Merchant Navy, likely from the 1700 - 1900 period.

As with most traditional folk songs, different versions developed. Irish artists such as Ryan's Fancy recorded very faithful versions which maintain the Go to Sea Once More title, while other versions, such as the one recorded in the late 1960s by the American folk-rock band The Byrds on their Ballad of Easy Rider album, use the title "Jack Tarr the Sailor" while telling the same tale.

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