The Devil’s Claw

The poor souls who worked below decks in a ship’s engine room had a tough and dangerous life. Stoking and trimming the boilers was both scientific and back-breaking and required mastery of many techniques and tools, one of which was known as The Devil’s Claw.

Three days out of Grimsby town all for the sake of Mary Brown
Belly o’ the ship does pitch and roll punch your card and shovel coal

Joined the fleet when times were hard rolled the dice and climbed aboard
Better at sea than taking dole punch your card and shovel coal

Packed me bags and told me ma I’m off to sea for places far
Slugging heat and biting cold punch your card and shovel coal

Build a fire and keep it burning keep an eye on the furnace door
Pressure high and pistons turn two hundred pounds or more
Trim and stoke but never tire raising steam with a rush and roar
Spread the coals and slice the fire scrape it out with the devil’s claw

Down below there’s a fiery place burning eyes and coal dust haze
Life down there gonna take its toll punch your card and shovel coal

Four hour turns in the bowels of hell wait for the sound of the shift end bell
Black gang working strong and bold punch your card and shovel coal

Sail the oceans far and wide never have seen a wave nor tide
Down below in the black gang hole punch your card and shovel coal

And when we sail into a port there’s no escape for the black gang sort
There’s dirty work to do below punch your card and shovel coal

And if by chance your ship is holed climb up top by the knotted rope
And if you can’t you’ve lost your soul punch your card and shovel coal

We’re going home to Grimsby Town earned some money for Mary Brown
Got some silver got some gold punch your card and shovel coal