I first heard this song played by a good friend of mine live at a late night Irish music session at Pennsic, and while I loved the energy of the song, for a long time I had no idea what it was about.
A little digging turned up some info. A 'tiffy' (slang for 'artificer') is someone employed in the Royal Navy as a fitter, turner, and electrician. Their job is not only to repair problems aboard ship, but also to craft or improvise any replacement parts needed if something is unavailable until they are able to make port.
The term 'lean and unwashed artificer' was apparently coined by William Shakespeare in Act IV, scene 2 of King John. Cyril Tawney, a naval artificer himself by trade, used the phrase as a starting point when writing the song.
'Jago's Mansions' is a nickname for the Devonport Barracks. 'Barrack Stanchions' is slang referring to officers that spend most of their time ashore, rarely if ever serving at sea.
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"LEAN AND UNWASHED TIFFY" - written by Cyril Tawney
I'm a lean and unwashed tiffy,
I come up from Plymouth Town.
I can fix it in a jiffy
If you'll hand that spanner down,
If you'll hand that spanner down.
Portland girls are raving beauties,
'Specially in the summer time.
They make you curse these weekend duties,
Making love to grease and grime,
Making love to grease and grime.
I kissed her standing, kissed her lying,
And I called her, “turtle-dove”.
If she'd had wings I'd have kissed her flying;
That's the way I won my love,
That's the way-I won my love.
She left me for a wardroom chappie,
She said, “He's the better man.”
She needs wine to keep her happy,
All I drink is Black-and-Tan,
All I drink is Black-and-Tan.
I'll go back to Jago's Mansions
There to end my life on shore.
Join up with them barrack stanchions,
Go R.A. forevermore,
Go R.A. forevermore.