We’ve courted gay Peruvian gals, French gals an’ Chinee Spanish gals an’ Dutch gals too, an’ dainty Japanee To far Australia, Honolulu, where th’ Wahinees do play Just a different gal in every port Oh, that’s the sailors way. Then it’s good bye Mavourneen, We’re off to sea again. Sailor Jack always come back To the gals he left behind!
In calm or storm, in rain or shine, the shellback doesn’t mind When the ocean swell, he’ll work like hell, for the gals he left behind He beats it north, he runs far south, he doesn’t get much pay He’s always on a losin’ game
Oh, shinin’ is the far North Star as it hangs on our stabbud bow We’re homeward bound for Risæ town, an’ our hearts are in it now We’ve crossed the line an’ run the Gulf Stream, bin round the Table Bay We’ve rounded Cape Horn, We’re home again
Oh, Tom* will go do his darling love, an’ Finn* will go to his dear Asbjørn* will go to his family, an’ Oddvar* fer pipes an’ beer. But I’ll go to the dancehall here to hear the music play. Fer around the Horn an’ home again
