Come, messmates pass the bottle round
Our time is short, remember
For our grog must stop and our spirits drop
On the first day of September

For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
Tomorrow we'll be sober

Farewell old rye, 'tis a sad, sad word
But alas! It must be spoken
The ruby cup must be given up
And the demijohn be broken

For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
Tomorrow we'll be sober

Jack's happy days will soon be gone
To return again, oh never!
For they've raised his pay five cents a day
But stopped his grog forever

For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
Tomorrow we'll be sober

Yet memory oft' will backward turn
And dwell with fondness partial
On the days when gin was not a sin
Nor cocktails brought court-martial

For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
Tomorrow we'll be sober

All hands to split the main brace, call
But split it now in sorrow
For the spirit-room key will be laid away
Forever, on tomorrow

For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
Tomorrow we'll be sober

For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
Tomorrow we'll be sober