[Intro: boot stomps, three male voices, no instruments] [“Baritone Singer”] SET UP FOR THE JIBE! [“Tenor Singer”] SHEET IS OVER! [“Bass Singer”] GUY IS FREE! [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] FLY THE KITE AND WAIT FOR ME! [Verse 1: gritty baritone, concertina enters] [“Baritone Singer”] We’re running deep beneath the kite, she’s pulling like a train, The call comes down, “Prepare to jibe!” and here we go again. The lazy sheet goes o’er the pole, the new guy forward goes, The pole car rises to the mark, and everybody knows: The uphaul’s marked and ready, and the downhaul’s standing by, The trimmer takes the second sheet… [“Tenor Singer”] AND KEEPS THE BUGGER FLYING! [Pre-Chorus: call and response] [“Baritone Singer”] New sheet on! [“Tenor Singer”] TAKE THE LOAD! [“Baritone Singer”] Square her back! [“Bass Singer”] DOWN WE GO! [“Baritone Singer”] Fly the kite! [“Tenor Singer”] KEEP HER FULL! [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] SQUARE! THEN TRIP! THEN DIP THE POLE! [Chorus: huge three-part hauling harmony] [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] TRIP! DIP! SWING HER THROUGH! OLD GUY OFF, MAKE WAY FOR NEW! FLY THAT KITE WHILE THE POLE’S AWAY! KEEP HER FULL AND WAIT FOR MADE! MADE! MADE! MADE! HO! NEW GUY ON AND GRIND, BOYS, GO! UPHAUL UP AND DOWNHAUL SET, SQUARE THAT POLE, SHE AIN’T DONE YET! TRIP! DIP! MADE! HO! THAT’S THE WAY THE JIBE MUST GO! [Verse 2: driving work-song rhythm] [“Baritone Singer”] The helm bears off, we square her back, the kite rolls out ahead, The trimmer flies her sheet to sheet and keeps the bugger fed. The main comes in, the crew gets low, the pole is coming back, Then TRIP! The old guy flies away… [“Bass Singer”] AND DON’T YOU GRIND THE SLACK! [“Baritone Singer”] The uphaul eases to the mark, the pole comes down and through, The bow swings underneath the stay and reaches for the new. No pole upon the spinnaker, but still the great thing flies, The trimmer works her sheet to sheet… [“Tenor Singer”] AND PRAYS TO ALL THE SKIES! [Bridge: a cappella call-and-response] [“Baritone Singer”] Who’s flying kite? [“Tenor Singer”] I’VE GOT THE SHEETS! [“Baritone Singer”] Who’s dipping pole? [“Bass Singer”] BOW, WATCH YOUR FEET! [“Baritone Singer”] New guy ready? [“Tenor Singer”] BOW’S GOT THE LINE! [“Baritone Singer”] Can we grind? [“Bass Singer”] NOT THIS TIME! [“Baritone Singer”] DON’T GRIND THE GUY! [“Tenor Singer”] NOT TILL MADE! [“Bass Singer”] LEAVE THE BOWMAN SOME BLOODY BRAID! [“Baritone Singer”] Is the new guy in the jaw? [Beat] [“Bow Singer: distant”] MADE!!! [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] THEN GRIND, YOU BASTARDS! GRIND! [Final Chorus: maximum three-part harmony] [“Three-Part Harmony Singers”] TRIP! DIP! SWING HER THROUGH! OLD GUY OFF, MAKE WAY FOR NEW! FLY THAT KITE WHILE THE POLE’S AWAY! KEEP HER FULL AND WAIT FOR MADE! MADE! MADE! MADE! HO! NEW GUY ON AND GRIND, BOYS, GO! UPHAUL UP AND DOWNHAUL SET, SQUARE THAT POLE, SHE AIN’T DONE YET! TRIM THAT KITE AND LET HER DRAW, THEN LOOK AROUND AT WHAT YOU SAW! [Outro: stomps, voices only] [“Baritone Singer”] Kite full? [“Tenor Singer”] KITE IS FULL! [“Baritone Singer”] New guy? [“Bass Singer”] NEW GUY’S ON! [“Baritone Singer”] Pole up? [“Tenor Singer”] UPHAUL SET! [“Baritone Singer”] Downhaul? [“Bass Singer”] DOWNHAUL SET! [“Baritone Singer”] Pole square? [“Tenor Singer”] SQUARED AND SET! [“Baritone Singer”] Trim? [“Bass Singer”] KITE IS TRIMMED! [“Skipper Singer: dry”] Nice jibe. [Interlude] Prepare to jibe again! [“All Singers”] OH, FOR FUCK’S SAKE. [Concertina stab] [End]
