We were laying in the Surrey Dock one day
The mate knew that it was time to get under way
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

He's homeward bound but he's out of luck
'Cause the skipper's half drunk in 'The Dog and Duck'
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

The skipper came aboard with the girl on his arm
He's going to give up barging and take a farm
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

And the mate ran for'ard and the cook fell in the dock
And the skipper got his fingers in the main sheet block
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

At last we're off down Lime'ouse Reach
And the leeboards knocked on Greenwich Beach
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

We shove her off and away we go
But the skipper's got a barrel of beer below
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

She fills away and she sails like heck
But there ain't no bargeman up on deck
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

There's a crash and a bump and she's ashore
The mate says Christ we're on the Nore
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

Then up jumps a mermaid covered in mud
We took her down the foc's'le and had a good time
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

On the top of the tide the barge did fleet
When the mate sees a ghost on the tops'l sheet
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

So away we go and the ghost did steer
And the cook drank the dregs of the Old Man's beer
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

We lay close-hauled round Orford Ness
When the wind backed round to the south-sou-west
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

We reached our port all safe and sound
And tied 'er up in Yarmouth Town
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go

So after all our fears and alarms
We all ended up in ‘The Druid's Arms’
Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys
When the wild blows our barge will go