Diary of Rebecca Britannia 1845

November  1,1845

I’m going to start this chapter of my diary and my life with my favorite sea shanty my Grandfather Thomas taught me when I was younger. It’s my favorite shanty and I miss hearing it, but I will always have my Grandfather to think when I sing it.

O I thought I heard the old man say, leave her, Johnny, leave her!

Tomorrow ye will get your pay, an' it's time for us to leave her!

Leave her, Johnny, leave her! Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!

For the voyage is long an' the winds don’t blow, an’ it's time for us to leave her!

Oh the wind was foul an' the sea ran high, leave her, Johnny, leave her!

She shipped it green an' none went by, an' it's time for us to leave her!

Leave her, Johnny, leave her! Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!

For the voyage is long an' the winds don't blow, an' it's time for us to leave her!

I hate to sail on this rotten tub, leave her, Johnny, leave her!

No grog allowed and rotten grub, an' it's time for us to leave her!

Leave her, Johnny, leave her! Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!

For the voyage is long an' the winds don't blow, an' it's time for us to leave her!

We swear by rote for want o' more, leave her, Johnny, leave her!

Oh now we're through so we'll gon on shore, an' it's time for us to leave her!

Leave her, Johnny, leave her! Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!

For the voyage is long an' the winds don't blow, an' it's time for us to leave her!

I always loved how this song talked about leaving the things that you loved. For me I love the sea like all of my family. However my brother and I are moving further west to join the frontier states. The Presidents that followed my Great aunt have all been really wonderful to the people. Congress and the government is running well. I am proud to see what my  family as accomplished as well as contributed to the country. I am scared though, many of our native allies say that the other native tribes as well as the former territory of Spain are showing signs of unrest, but that may be due to our rapid expansion. Some of our states already touch the other ocean. I wonder what sailing is like on those waters. I am not sure which Britannian territory  or state that we may go too, I do hope it is one where I can sail.

Rebecca Britannia