Paddy Lay Back The Dreadnoughts

'Twas a cold an' dreary mornin' in December (December)
Well, all of me money it was spent (spent, spent)
Where it went to, Lord, I barely can't remember (remember)
So down to the shippin' office went (went, went)

Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back)!
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack)!
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
For we're bound for Valparaiso 'round the Horn!

Ah, that day there wuz a great demand for sailors (for sailors)
For the Colonies and for 'Frisco and for France (France, France)
So I shipped aboard a Limey barque the Hotspur (the Hotspur)
An' got paralytic drunk on me advance ('vance, 'vance)

Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back)!
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack)!
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
All around ship stations, boys, be handy!
For we're bound for Valparaiso 'round the Horn!

'Twas on the quarterdeck where first I saw 'em (I saw 'em)
Such an ugly bunch I'd never seen before ('fore, 'fore)
For the captain he had shipped a crew of Belgians (Eughhh!)
An' it made me poor ol' heart feel sick an' sore (sore, sore)