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Hans Dans An' Me


Hans Dans an' me was shipmates once, an' shared the wind an' weather,
An' many a job o' work in them old days we done together;
I've stood my trick with Hans afloat an' drunk with him ashore,
But — never no more, Hans Dans, my lad, Lord love you, never no more!

Hans Dans an' me was shipmates once, we couldn't 'elp but be,
'E'd shoved 'is bloomin' nose in every ship as sailed the sea!
For Hans'd sign for three pun' ten when union rates was four,
But' — never no more, Hans Dans, my lad, you bet yer, never no more!

Hans Dans an' me was shipmates once, an' if 'e'd fought us clean,
Why, shipmates still when war was done might Hans an' me 'ave been,
The truest pals a man can have are them 'e's fought before,
But — never no more, Hans Dans, my lad, d' ye get me, never no more!

Hans Dans an' me was shipmates once, but long's I sail the sea,
There'll be no foc's'le big enough to hold Hans Dans an' me,
For all the seas an' all the years won't wipe out Hans's score,
Nor do away the dirty work 'e 's done an' called it war,
No, never no more, Hans Dans, my lad, so 'elp me, never no more!

Notes

From RHYMES OF THE RED ENSIGN, edited by Cicely Fox Smith, published by Hodder and Stoughton, London, UK, © 1919, pp. 35-36. A verse first appeared in PUNCH magazine, Volume 155, September 4, 1918, p. 158.

The strong anti-German sentiment in this poem is a direct response to the anti-German propaganda efforts of England and her allies during World War 1. The propaganda efforts of the Germans was, of course, similar.

The header graphic is from a World War 2 merchant seamen recruiting poster.

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Comments


  • Charley Noble Moderators member
    January 15, 2006
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    This is another of CFS's World War 1 poems which focuses on the bitter feelings many British sailors had about their former German shipmates, after experiencing the horrors of war at sea.

    Charley Noble