'Twas a cold dreary morning in December
December
When all of me money, it was spent
Spent, spent
Where it went to, Lord, I really can't remember
Remember
So down to the shipping office I went
Went, went!

Paddy lay back
Paddy lay back
Take in yer slack
Take in yer slack
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl!
All around ship's stations, boys, be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the Horn!

Ah, that day there was a great demand for sailors
For sailors
For the colonies, for 'Frisco and for France
France, France
So I shipped aboard a limey barque, the Hotspur
The Hotspur
An' got paralytic drunk on me advance
'Vance, 'vance

Paddy lay back
Paddy lay back
Take in yer slack
Take in yer slack
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl!
All around ship's stations, boys, be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the Horn!

Twas on the quarterdeck where first I saw 'em
I saw 'em
Such an ugly bunch I'd never seen before
'Fore, 'fore
For the captain he had shipped a crew of Belgians
Euh
An' it made me poor of heart, feel sick and sore

Paddy lay back
Paddy lay back
Take in yer slack
Take in yer slack
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl!
All around ship's stations, boys, be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the Horn!

Ah, but Jimmy the Rat he knew a thing or two, sir
Or two sir
An' soon he'd shipped me outward bound again
'Gain, 'gain
On a Limey to the Chinchas for guano
Guano?
And there I was a-roaring this refrain

Paddy lay back
Paddy lay back
Take in yer slack
Take in yer slack
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl!
All around ship's stations, boys, be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the Horn!

And I asked the mate a-which a-watch was mine-O
Was mine-O
Says he, ''I'll soon find out a-which is which,''
Which, which
An' he blowed me down an' kicked me hard a stern-O
A stern-O
Calling me a dirty rotten son of a bitch

Paddy lay back
Paddy lay back
Take in yer slack
Take in yer slack
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl!
All around ship's stations, boys, be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the Horn!

And so there was I once again at sea, boys
At sea, boys
The same ol' garbage over and over again
'Gain, 'gain
So won't you stamp the caps'n an' make some noise, boys
Some noise boys
And join me all singing the ol' sweet refrain
'Frain, 'frain

Paddy lay back
Paddy lay back
Take in yer slack
Take in yer slack
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl!
All around ship's stations, boys, be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the Horn!