Rolling Home
(Lied 1.2 im "Liederbuch für Seebären und Landratten")

1. Call all hands to man the capstan,
   see the cable run down clear.
   Heave away, and with a will, boys,
   for old England we will steer.
   And we'll sing in joyful chorus
   in the watches of the night,
   and we'll sight the shores of England
   when the gray dawn brings the light.
   Rf: Rolling home, rolling home,
   rolling home across the sea;
   rolling home, to dear old England,
   rolling home, dear land, to thee.
    
2. Up aloft amid the rigging
   blows the loud exulting gale,
   like a bird's wide outstretched pinions
   spreads on high each swelling sail.
   And the wild waves cleft behind us
   seem to murmur as they flow:
   there are loving hearts, that wait you
   in the land to which you go.
   Rf: Rolling home ...
   ... rolling home, for ten and three.
    
3. Many thousand miles behind us,
   many thousand miles before,
   ancient ocean heave to waft us
   to the well remembered shore.
   Cheer up, Jack, bright smiles await you
   from the fairest of the fair,
   and her loving eyes will greet you
   with kind welcomes everywhere.
   Rf: Rolling home ...
   ... rolling home, sweetheart to thee.
    
4. Man your capstan, bars and swifters,
   every one that can clap on.
   As we heave around the pawls, boys,
   we will sing our well-known song.
   Up aloft, amid the rigging,
   up amid the howling gale
   we will furl our big main-topsail,
   as we're rolling home again.
   Rf: Rolling home ...
    
5. Now farewell Australian daughters,
   we shall leave your fruitful shores.
   We shall soon cross deep blue waters
   to see our home and friends once more.
   We shall sing backsongs and shanties,
   say good bye to all friends here.
   We shall soon trip our anchor,
   and for old England we shall steer.
   Rf: Rolling home ...
    
6. East/Westward, east/westward, ever east/westward,
   to the rising/setting of the sun;
   we have steered ever east/westward,
   since our voyage has begun.
   Off Cape Horn on a winter's morning,
   setting sails in ice and snow,
   you could hear the shell-backs calling:
   Hoist away and let her go!
   Rf: Rolling home ...

Die 5. Strophe wird auch als 1. Strophe gesungen.
Die Version auf Platt heisst "Magelhan" ("Dor fohr von Hamborg mol so'n ohlen Kassen ...") und findet sich als Lied 1.3 im "Liederbuch"
Capstan Shanty und Forebitter