When daddy embarked on the Ouzel
The sails were billowed and grand
They set out to do some fair-trading
With the sultans in old Turkey land
He said ‘It will take but a fortnight
To comply with our bold captains plans’
But I could tell by his smile he was
fibbing
Him winking and shaking my hand
In Ringsend the mood was elation
From the Shelly Banks out to the Bay
And mammies with kids were all waving
As the Galley was pulling away
With the wind and the tides in their favour
By the light of the late autumn sun
While the Bishop he prayed for fair
weather
Good tidings and a speedy return
There was worry and much consternation
When Christmas and Easter had gone
No sign of the Ouzel returning
No sails on the Hor-i-o-zon
No word from merchants in passing
Or trading ships sailing that line
No sign of a soul or a sailor
No word from that daddy of mine
When three years had passed without
mention
The merchants counted their cost
And agreed to pay out insurance
Conceding the good ship was lost
Me mammy she cried all that evening
Nursing the baby she’d found
That morning way back in September
When the man we call ‘uncle’ came ‘round
So mam she turned into a ‘shawlie’
And widow at thirty-two years
And bought a new bed with the divvies
And me uncle he had a few beers
Many a family was wounded
By the loss of a father or son
But despite the sad situfication
In Ringsend we still had some fun
Two years had passed since the payout
And the survivors they started again
Families that once had eight children
Now able to boast nine or ten
With much painting and decoration
In colours both tasteful and quaint
Houses one dilapidated
Now sported a fresh coat of paint
Now all was well in the village
And we’d learnt to live with the loss
And the Ouzel was naught but a memory
Just a bridge that we’d managed to cross
When suddenly early one morning
A ship appeared in the mist
Heavily laden with booty
And a crew that was nearly half sassed
Soon there was laughing and cheering
And welcoming travellers home
And waving of hankies and nappies
And promises no more to roam
Then amid the embraces and cuddles
And that wonderful welcoming scene
Some oul wan plucked up the courage
And said ‘Jazes man, where have yis been?’
The captain began for to stammer
Him blushing at the request
‘We were ambushed by dastardly brigands
With tattoos and dirty string vests
They forced us into collusion
Robbing the boats from the King
And plundering towns on the seaboard
And all kinds of despicable things’
‘One night when the curs had a party
They were high on tequila and rum
And knackered from ravaging maidens
We knew that out time it had come
In no time we’d proven their master
And locked them all up in chains
And wounded them sore with our curses
By calling them terrible names’
‘Then we set sail for auld Dublin
The town that we all loved so well
And the thoughts of a hold full of bounty
Well, it made our little hearts swell
With the treasures we’ve liberated
From the hands of Algerian Corsairs
We have returned to our loved ones
To straighten out all our affairs’
But the tale of this ship’s captain
Was greeted with great disbelief
Though no one dared for to brand them
As pirates or even as thieves
But even still folk were uneasy
When they seen the treasure in piles
Soon frowns and raised eyebrows
Replaced the cheers and the smiles
My daddy looked down at his presents
For each child a hand whittled toy
‘Bejazus I’ve counted and counted
But how come I’m short for two boys?’
He patted me head and said ‘Jamesy
You know you’re my pride and my joy
But when I set sail with the Ouzel
Your mam had two girls and a boy’
He then took one look at me mammy
And the twins as they played on the street
And noted the bulge in her blouse
And the new pair of shoes on her feet
Then they hugged and they kissed in
elation
True lovers at their journey’s end
Such an immaculate reception
Can only be had in Ringsend
That was me daddy’s last voyage
And he settled down on the shore
And we were happy together
Though it never was quite as before
And he’d tell us tales of the ocean
While he put the small ones to bed
And tuck them in under the blankets
Tossing the curls on their heads
And mammy seems quite contented
Though I still see a glint in her eye
Watching the twins and them playing
And the youngest is her pride and joy
So we’ve all let bygones be bygones
In Ringsend the chapter is closed
And my uncle calls ‘round of a Sunday
‘Cos the ma is still washing his cloths
And the traders they sold off the cargo
To cover insurance and costs
And they set up a council of merchants
To investigate ships that get lost
That was my tale of the Ouzel
And me father’s adventures at sea
And I treasure the hand whittled mermaid
That me daddy had brought home for me