'Twas a cold and dreary morning in December
And all of my money it was spent
And where it went to, well, I can't remember
So down to the shipping office went
Paddy, lay back! Take in your slack!
Take your turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy
We're bound for Valparaiso 'round the Horn
Well, back then there was a great demand for sailors
For the colonies, for Frisco and for France
So I jumped aboard a Limey barque, the Hotspur
Got paralytic drunk on my advance
Paddy, lay back! Take in your slack!
Take your turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy
We're bound for Valparaiso 'round the Horn
Well, 'twas on the quarterdeck when I first saw 'em
Such an ugly bunch I'd never seen before
And there was bums and stiffs from every quarter
It made me poor old heart feel sick and sore
Paddy, lay back! Take in your slack!
Take your turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy
We're bound for Valparaiso 'round the Horn
There was Russ-i-ans and Dutchmen and Spaniards
And Johnny Crapoos, just across from France
And none could hardly speak a word of English
But answered to the name of "Month's Advance"
Paddy, lay back! Take in your slack!
Take your turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy
We're bound for Valparaiso 'round the Horn
Oh, I wish that I was in The Jolly Sailor
Along with Katie Sky a-drinking beer
And then I thought, "What jolly chaps are sailors"
And with me flipper wiped away a tear
Paddy, lay back! Take in your slack!
Take your turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy
We're bound for Valparaiso 'round the Horn
And here we are, once again at sea, boys
The same old bloody story over again
So stomp around the capstan, give a cheer, boys
And sing with me this beautiful refrain
Paddy, lay back! Take in your slack!
Take your turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy
We're bound for Valparaiso 'round the Horn
Paddy, lay back! Take in your slack!
Take your turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy
We're bound for Valparaiso 'round the Horn
