Twas a cold and dreary morning in December (December)
And all of me money it was spent (spent, spent)
Where it went to, I can’t remember (remember)
So down to the shipping office went (went went)

Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl.
Walk about ship, stations, boys, be handy (we’re handy!)
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn

Well it seems there was a great demand for sailors (for sailors)
For the colonies, for Frisco and for France (France France)
Well, I shipped aboard the limey barque the Hotspur (the Hotspur)
And got paralytic drunk on my advance (ad-vance)

Well, I joined her on a cold December morning (morning)
A-flapping of me flippers to keep me warm (warm warm)
With the south cone hoisted as a warning (a warning)
To stand by the coming of a storm (storm storm)

Well, I woke up in the morning stiff and sore (sore)
And I knew that I was outward bound again (again again)
And a voice come a-bawling at the door (door)
Lay aft men, and answer to your name (name name)

Now it was on the quarter deck when first I seen ‘em (seen ‘em)
Such an ugly bunch I never seen before (before before)
Cause there was a bum and stiff from every quarter (quarter)
And it made my poor old heart feel sick and sore (sore sore)

So here we are, once again at sea, boys (at sea, boys!)
The same old bloody story over again (again again)
So stamp around the capstan, give a cheer, boys (Huzzah!)
And join me singing this ol’ refrain (refrain refrain)