When ships were ships and times were good
and everyman knew his place
and the future was a treasure trove
for the whole human race
women they were women then
and the cards were there to call
but all this happened long ago
before a kid like you were born
to miss - the thrill of it all

Peking Pete was a man's man
he drank his liquor straight
with a pocket full of money and
a heart full of hate
on a schooner called 'The Storm"
smuggling guns on the China seas
before a kid like you was born
to miss - the thrill of it all

He settled down in Singapore
to let it all drift away
with a lady from the waterfront
ten dollars night or day
now you'll find him sitting as the sun goes down
shooting bottles off his wall
telling tales of the times he spent
before a kid like you was born
to miss - the thrill of it all