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Ben Backstay Lyrics by Burl Ives

Down to the Sea in Ships

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Ben Backstay was a boatswain
A very jolly boy
No lad than he more merrily
Could pipe all hands ahoy
And when unto his summons
We did not well attend
No lad than he more merrily
Could handle a rope's end
Singing chip cho, cherry cho
Fol de riddle ido
Singing chip cho, cherry cho
Fol de riddle ido
It chanced one day our captain
A very jolly dog
Served out to all the company
A double share of grog
Ben Backstay he got tipsy
Unto his heart's content
And being half-seas over
Why overboard he went
Singing chip cho, cherry cho
Fol de riddlе ido
Singing chip cho, cherry cho
Fol de riddle ido
A shark was on thе larboard bow:
Sharks don't on manners stand
But grapple all they come near
Just like your sharks on land
We heaved Ben out some tackling
Of saving him in hopes;
But the shark he bit his head off
So he couldn't see the ropes
Singing chip cho, cherry cho
Fol de riddle ido
Singing chip cho, cherry cho
Fol de riddle ido
Without his head his ghost appeared
All on the briny lake:
He piped all hands aloft and said;
"Lads, by me warning take:
By drinking grog I lost my life
So lest my fate you meet
Why, never mix your liquors, lads
But always drink them neat."
Credits
Burl Ives

Burl Ives

About “Ben Backstay” by Burl Ives

Read the complete lyrics to "Ben Backstay" by Burl Ives from the album "Down to the Sea in Ships". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under In English, USA, Pop.

"Ben Backstay" is performed by Burl Ives. from the album "Down to the Sea in Ships" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Ben Backstay", explore more songs by Burl Ives using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Ben Backstay" is credited to Burl Ives. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Ben Backstay" appears on "Down to the Sea in Ships".

Visit the Burl Ives artist page at /artist/burl-ives for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.