“And now it’s time for music!”
Rex groans as we all clap and sit around him, just as Keyara directs us. Then she goes and takes his hand.
“Introducing…Uncle Rex.”
Rex stands. “...and his amazing niece!”
They both bow, and Daisy applauds.
“They haven’t done anything yet!” Leander heckles and Rex gives him a dirty look.
“Now, first we need a drummer,” Rex says, handing the frying pan and a stick to me, “and I think old Irish here can do that… and when you’ve learned the chorus, you all have to join in, OK?”
We all nod, and I pick up my stick, a little confused. “What kind of beat am I doing?”
“Sea shanty beat, they are basically all the same, four counts?”
I know exactly what he means, sea shanties are very similar to a lot of Irish folk music.
A sea shanty, how apropos.
“Are you ready, uncle?”
Rex clears his throat, “One, two, three, four..” He counts me in then starts to sing.
“There once was a ship that put to sea,
And the name of that ship was the Billy o' Tea,
The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down Blow,
me bully boys, blow (huh)”
“Wellerman!” Daisy shouts. “I know this!”
I keep the beat up, and Daisy is singing along as well. How the feck they all know this shanty is beyond me.
“Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing' is done
We'll take our leave and go.”
“AND AGAIN!” shouts Rex as Keyara dances around in a circle.
“Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing' is done
We'll take our leave and go.”
“NEXT VERSE!” Leander, Gray and Harvey are swaying in a row, just like drunken sailors.
“She had not been two weeks from shore
