SAMMY'S BAR or THE LAST BOAT'S A'LEAVIN
	(Cyril Tawney)

        A              D       A
	I went down to Sammy's Bar
                   D             A
	  Hey, the last boat's a'leavin
                        E   A
	By the shore at Pieta
                        E    A
	  Haul away the daighsoe  [Cyril uses "call away the dyso"]


	And my real love, she was there
	There was sand all in her hair

	How did sand get in your hair
	Darling Johnny put it there

	Been with Johnny all the day
	Down at Ghajn Tuffheija Bay       [pronounce ein'-ta-fee-a]

	He's a better man by far
	Because he's got a Yankee car

	I went out from Sammy's Bar
	Had to hire a Yankee car

	Fourteen days I drank no wine
	Saving for that love of mine

	Then one day in Paula square
	At a paper I did stare

	Johnny tried a hairpin bend
	For my love, it was the end

	Going back to Sammy's Bar
	I don't need no Yankee car

	Copyright Dick James Music Ltd.

The song was written by British folk singer extraordinaire Cyril
Tawney in 1958. I have it on his record "In Port". Here's what he says 
about the song on the sleeve notes:-

	The Old Bar, kept by Sammy, was at the head of Pieta creek in
	Malta and thus very handy for the crews of the nearby
	submarines. Furthermore, Sammy's potent white wine gave the
	best kick-value for money on the island and three shillings 
	was usually sufficient to send you back on board twittering,
	a distinct advantage when you were only paid fortnightly. The
	"bar" was hardly more than a hole in the wall, and I should
	imagine that thirty people could just about cram in there if
	necessary, yet it became the haunt of every class of society,
	from the humblest stoker and his missus to visiting
	diplomats and their ladies. Rumour had it that the patronage
	of a certain member of the Royal Family back in the late 40's
	had made it fashionable with the upper set ever after. During
	1955 and 1956 my mates and I would occasionally drop in with
	the guitar for a sing-song, but apart fom that there is no
	basis of fact in this ballad, which was composed during a
	spell of nostalgia after returning to the U.K. They tell me
	it's no use looking for Sammy's Bar now as it has disappeared
	under a road-widening scheme.