My Mum used to tell me this "story" at bedtime sometimes. I used to love it.
Her version went:
Twas a dark and stormy night,
And the moon was at its height,
And the captain said to his mate:
"Mate! Tell us a tale!"
And this is the tale he told...

Sometimes she'd change it up a bit and use Bosun instead of captain, usually once the "mate" is telling the tale. Each time she repeated it it would become more dramatic so the words would have longer vowels. Or she'd go quieter and quieter, then all of a sudden shout "boo!" :D