"Sea Fever" by John Masefield (read by Tom O'Bedlam)

John Masefield was Poet Laureate from 1930 until his death in 1967. He wrote this poem when he was only 22.

I've know this poem by heart for many years, but there's a problem I didn't know about with the word "go". It seems to have been omitted in the first version. This version is from SALT-WATER POEMS AND BALLADS, by John Masefield, pub. Maxmillan Co., NY, © 1913 and I found it here
http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/14195-John...

Here's Masefield himself reading the poem. Note that he says "I must go down..."
http://www.bl.uk/pubsmp3/masefield.mp3

I don't have a strong preference but I'd choose "go" because I wouldn't use "down" as a verb and I don't think Masefield would either.

A trick is a watch, i.e. time spent on duty. Whetted means sharpened.

He bears an unfortunate resemblance to Adolf Hitler, and public images of him have attracted protests (from bloody fools).

I borrowed the picture from a site that sells songs of the sea. I'm sure they won't mind http://www.goldenhindmusic.com/produc...