When a topman and an afterguard were a-walking one day
Said the topman to the afterguard, I mean for to pray
For the rights of all sailors and the wrongs of all men
For the right to pray for, you must answer: Amen!

We'll pray for the bosun with his little stick
Who bawls all hands out and he gives us a lick
Strikes many a good fellow and kicks him amain
May the devil double triple damn him, says the afterguard, Amen!

We'll pray for the purser who gives us to eat
Spew-burgoo, rank butter and the musty horse meat
And the weevily old biscuit, while he gets the gain
May the devil double triple damn him, says the afterguard. Amen!

We'll pray for the officer who hold up our due
They owed six month wages and our prize money, too
Let them fight their own war over and over again
And may the devil double triple damn him, says the afterguard. Amen!

And the last thing I'll pray for is a bottle of beer
For the lord sent us liquor our spirits to cheer
And when I've got one pot, I wished  it were ten
And maybe one for the grog, boy, says the afterguard. Amen!