John Archbold
Arrowsmith:Robb Trio: “Our Toronto friend John Archbold’s father and great uncle, both Tyneside men, were in the British Merchant Navy, whose flag, the Red Ensign, is referred to as the “red duster” by those who sail under it. Thanks to his union, John’s father narrowly avoided being assigned to the notoriously dangerous Arctic convoys supplying the Russian war effort in WWII, only to survive the sinking of the S.S. Lylepark by a German cruiser in the South Atlantic. The song’s chorus was inspired by John’s great uncle Norman, who clearly had little time for the “spit-polished boot” wearers of the Royal Navy.”
Now it’s many’s the day since I first sailed away With my new cap and jacket so clean No bacon and eggs ’til I got my sea legs ‘Twas my first trip, O Lord I was green. Chorus: Oh that Old Red Duster on a tramp or a liner There’ll be no ‘Pusser Navy’ for me You can keep your salutes and your spit polished boots, It’s the Old Red Duster for me. Now in many’s the ship I’ve made many’s the trip ‘Cross oceans and seas calm and wild And in ports near and far I’ve been flung from the bar And it’s many’s the young girl beguiled. I was pulled from the pool, I was nobody’s fool ‘Twas the jaunt to Murmansk for me. But The Union said, No, as a fourth he can’t go’ It’s The Union forever for me. Now you know this old tramp’s got a foc’sle that’s damp Her plates are half sprung and they leak The food’s always bad and the skipper’s gone mad And those bastards the owners are cheap. Well I’ve sweated and slaved at that engine I’ve raved Nursing this cripple along Her glands they’re a-weeping and her pumps they’re a creakin’ And at six knots she’s racing along. I’ve been down in the hole in the dust and the coal All day and all night as well. And when my end’s near I’ll go without fear For I know it’s been hotter than Hell! So now you all know why the true sailors go Merchant seamen to be And if you want any more like what’s come before You can bloody well sing it to me.