so we 're rollin ' back up the street , my bully boys and me , and i still got my shiv half out of my vest , for show , really , since i do n't plan on pullin ' it out , most of this fightin ' bein ' in fun and not in deadly earnest , when there 's a line of striped shirts in front of us and we know they are british sailors and it do n't look like they mean to let us pass without a fight , and ephraim squares his shoulders , as do the barkley brothers , and henry raises his puny but brave fists and john thomas prepares to do damage to the line of battle when i hear a familiar voice say , `` you know , jacky , when i thought of you back here in the states , i really thought you 'd be sittin ' in a rocking chair with a shawl about your little shoulders , some needlework in your lap , and a prayer on your lips .