Smugglers and Smuggling - Smugglers Song

SMUGGLERS AND SMUGGLING

place, goods and all, they had under the assurance to refresh themselves with " bread, cheese and porter ," and while doing so actually saw the commander ride along an open road at the top of his field to his residence. When theaffair became known, which it did shortly afterwards, the officer owning the dog, and some of the men were removed. The commander remarked when he first heard of the circumstances, " D-n the smugglers, they will carry their goods through my house before they have done."

Some fifty years ago the following song was a favourite along the Sussex coast, and as it represents faithfully the life of the smuggler, I take the liberty of transcribing it as well as "The Smuggler King."

WILL WATCH, THE BOLD SMUGGLER

• Twas one morn, when the wind from the northward blew keenly
• And sullenly wav'd the big waves of the main
• A fam'd smuggler, Will Watch, kissed his Sue, then serenely
• Took helm, and to sea boldly steer'd out again.
• Will had promised his Sue, that this trip if well ended
• Should coil up his hopes, and he'd anchor ashore;
• With his pockets well lin'd his life should be mended,
• And the laws he had broken, he'd break never break more
• The sea boat was trim, made her port, took her lading,
• Then Will stood for home, made the offing and cried -
• "This night, if I've luck, furls teh sails of my trading,
• In dock I can lie, serve a friend too beside."
• Will lay to, till night came on handsome and dreary,
• Then to hoise evry sail he pip'd up each hand;
• But a signal soon spied, twas a prospect uncheery,
• A signal that warn'd him to steer from the land,