Sea Shanty Contest Winners – 2011 National Conference

Winning Shanty #1
Author: Miles McCrimmon, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
 
Verse 1:
In high school it’s true that I squandered me youth;
Way aye blow the man down
With college around l’d have been less uncouth.
Give me some time to blow the man down!
 
High schoolers are ready to write palindrome,
Way aye blow the man down
Or sonnet or lim’rick without callin’ home.
Give ‘em some time to blow the man down!
 
Chorus:
Oh, blow the man down, NACEP, blow the man down
Way aye blow the man down
Oh, blow the man down, NACEP, blow him away
Give us some time to blow the man down!
 
Verse 2:
So let’s all use NACEP to chart a new course;
Way aye blow the man down
Together we make up one helluva force.
Give us some time to blow the man down!
 
We’re growing so fast that to keep us afloat,
Way aye blow the man down
Next year we’ll be needing a much bigger boat.
Give us some time to blow the man down!
 
Chorus:
Oh, blow the man down, NACEP, blow the man down
Way aye blow the man down
Oh, blow the man down, NACEP, blow him away
Give us five years to blow the man down!
 
Winning Shanty #2
Title: A Shanty about Adam Lowe
Author: Anne Ausdemore, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Come all ye NA-CEPers who’ve come to yon sea,
Yo, ho, blow the man down,
I’ll tell ye a story of our young Lowe laddie,
Give me some time to blow the man down.
 
Now this Lowe laddie was a true buccaneer,
Yo, ho, blow the man down,
A worldly rogue, swashbucklin’ far ‘n’ near
Give me some time to blow the man down.
 
Then one day he thought, ” ‘fore I’ve squandered me youff’
Yo, ho, blow the man down,
“l better shape up and start wearin’ a suit!”
Give me some time to blow the man down.
 
He looked up a grand group, NACEP is its name
Yo, ho, blow the man down,
He found bonny Lynn of presidential fame.
Give me some time to blow the man down.
 
“Madam I’m Adam, pardon me Palindrome”
Yo, ho, blow the man down.
“I want to make NACEP my landlubber home”
Give me some time to blow the man down.
 
Fair Lynn said, “Now matey, what be yer vitae?”
Yo, ho, blow the man down,
‘No lily-livered scallywag be takin’ our pay!” (lily- & scally- are said as one syllable)
Give me some time to blow the man down.
 
Said Adam, “Now lassie, me fame is well-known…”
Yo, ho, blow the man down,
“Since I pick me toes with a codfish bone!”
Give me some time to blow the man down.
 
So Adam was hired, each NACEPer knows
Yo, ho, blow the man down,
And he steers our big ship, yellin’ “Thar she blows!”
Give me some time to blow the man down.