The Catch-Boy (A Belfast Lullaby)	The Titanic (left) and her sister ship the Olympic in the gantries Samuel Scott was a 15-year-old apprentice riveter who worked on the Titanic. He died on the 20^th of April 1910 after falling from a ladder into the open hull of the ship. Apprentice boys were obliged to sign an ‘Indenture’ committing themselves to serve five years learning their trade, starting at six shillings a week. Their annual, unpaid, holidays were Christmas day and Easter Monday and three whole or six half days between the 1st of March and the 1st of October. One of the catch boy’s tasks was to make and serve the tea for the riveting gang, the money to pay for tea, milk and sugar was collected once a week by the boy and called ‘blood’ money. ‘Duncher’ is the Belfast word for a flat cap. The flat caps in the shipyards were worn by tradesmen, you had to earn the right to wear a ‘duncher’ by serving your time and learning your trade.
Do you hear the hammers my wee Sammy From the bed where in you lie? In the morning down on Queen’s Island You’re starting as a heater-boy You put your name to the indenture Singing up for five long years Witnessed by the shipyard agent Father’s pride and mother’s tears
Hear the men bang in those rivets Watch them from the shoulder swing Holder-on just keep her steady Let the six-pound hammers sing
Months of sweating at the furnace Working as a heater boy Bringing home six shiny shillings Be your mammies pride and joy Shovel coal and heat the metal Both your feet on solid ground Where you’ll learn to serve your betters Watch out when a ‘hat’ comes ‘round
Toss that rivet to the catch-boy He can grab it with his tongs And climb the scaffold like a monkey Speed it up the day is long Heater catch-boy holder on You’ll be a basher by and by Collect the ‘blood’ and earn your ‘duncher’ Watch how five long years can fly
Do you hear the hammers my wee Sammy From the grave where in you lie? Working on the ‘Ship of Dreams’ First to fall and first to die