Ships may come and ships may go

As long as the sea does roll.

Each sailor lad just like his dad,

He loves the flowing bowl.

A trip ashore he does adore

With a girl that's plump and round.



Chorus:

When your money's all gone

It's the same old song,

"Get up Jack! John, sit down!"

Come along, come along, 

You jolly brave boys,

There's lots of grog in the jar.

We'll plough the briny ocean

With the jolly roving tar.



When Jack gets in, it's then he'll steer

For some old boarding house.

They'll welcome him with run and gin,

They'll feed him on pork scouse.

He'll lend and spend and not offend

Till he lies drunk on the ground



Chorus



He then will sail aboard some ship

For India or Japan

In Asia there, the ladies fair

All love the sailor man.

He'll go ashore and on a tear

He'll buy some girl a gown.



Chorus



When Jack gets old and weatherbeat,

Too old to roam about,

In some rum shop, they'll let him stop

Till eight bells calls him out.

He'll raise his eyes up to the skies,

Sayin' "Boys, we're homeward bound."



Chorus



Come along, come along, 

You jolly brave boys,

There's lots of grog in the jar.

We'll plough the briny ocean

With the jolly roving tar.