When first I landed in Liverpool, I went upon a spree. Me hard-earned cash I spent it fast, got drunk as drunk can be. An’ when me money it wuz all gone, ‘Twas then I wanted more, But I made up me mind, to stay out of line and go to sea no more. No more, no more, to go to sea no more. I wuz fully inclined to make up me mind an’ go to sea no more.
That night I slept wid Angeline, to drunk to roll in bed. Me clodes wus new, an’ me money wuz too, next morn wid them she’d fled. An’ as I rolled the streets about, the tarts they all did roar, Oh there goes Jack Ratcliffe, poor sailor boy, who must go to sea once more.
Now as I wus rollin’ down the street I met ol’ Rapper Brown. I axed him then to take me in, but he looked at me with a frown Sez he, “Last time yiz wuz paid off wid me, yiz chalkid up no score, But I’ll take yer advance, an’ give yiz a chance, an’ send yiz to sea once more.
He shipped me aboard of a whalin’ ship bound for them Arctic Seas, Where the cold winds blow, an’ there’s ice an’ snow, an’ Jamaica rum do freeze. I can’t stay here, for I have no gear, an’ I spent all me money ashore, An’ ‘twas then that I said,that I wisht I wuz dead, so I’d go to sea no more.
Some days we catch our sperm whales, boys, some days we did catch none. Wid a twenty foot oar stuck in yer paw, we rowed the whole day long. An’ then the night it did come late, an’ ye dozed upon yer oar, Oh, yer back.wuz so week, that ye niver could seek a bunk at sea no more.
Come here all ye bold an’ seafaring men, an’ listen to me song; When yiz come home off of them dam’ long trips, I’ll tell yiz what goes wrong. Take my advice, don’t drink strong drinks, nor go sleepin’ wid a whore. Get married, me lads, an’ have all night in, an’ go to sea no more.
