He was Halifax born and bred

Long in the arm and thick in the head

To leave Halifax there's a quote

Its "through a bottle or on a boat"

So while he was no sailor

He found work aboard a whaler

But when they got to St. Pierre

It was clear that he didn't care 



They took him to the gangway

And they gave him lashes twenty

The captain ordered thirty

But his daughter begged for mercy

She stepped in before they stabbed him

And she took him to her cabin

There she gave him wine and water

And a bit more than she oughter' 



So set the sails

Or walk the plank

What was your name?

And what was your rank?

If you don't work you'll be hung

So come and mutiny while you're young 



Now the Captain was no fool

And he told the men if you break the rules

You'll all end up like Monahan

And taste the cat to every man!

Life aboard a ship is hard

But exactly who guards the guards?

When a Captain goes insane

And men have treason in their veins 



The next day Monahan passed the word

And all those who knew and heard

When they called achors aweigh

That was the call to disobey

This time the Captain walked the plank

They dropped him off near Grand Bank

"Back to Halifax you can swim"

And as he drowned they sang to him 



So set the sail

or walk the plank

What was your name

or what is your rank

They opened the casks and gave a cheer

For Monahan the Mutineer







And for the moment all looked well

Until the sea began to swell

The winds blew and the boat began to tip

they felt below the hull start to rip 



And as we went into the sea

Monahan screamed this advice to me

"If we drown while we are young"

its better to drown than to be hung!" 



So set the sail

or walk the plank

What was your name

or what is your rank

If there's work on a ship--don't volunteer

like Monahan the mutineer 



And off in Halifax town

The rats come butting the houses down

On the beaches and on the piers

Where the beer is mixed with tears

Old men still tell of Monahan

His mutiny and ill-fated plan

How we all went into the sea

And how none survived except for me!