'Twas a cold an' dreary mornin' in December, (December)
Well all of me money it was spent (spent spent)
Where it went to lord I barely can't remember (remember)
So down to the shippin' office 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 stations, boys, be handy
For we're bound for valaparaiser 'round the horn!

Ah, that day there wuz a great demand for sailors (for sailors)
For the colonies and for 'frisco and for France (France France)
So I shipped aboard a limey barque the hotspur (the hotspur)
An' got paralytic drunk on my 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 stations, boys, be handy!
For we're bound for valaparaiser 'round the horn!

'Twas on the quarterdeck where first I saw 'em (I saw 'em)
Such an ugly bunch I'd niver seen before ('fore 'fore)
'Cause there was a bum and stiff from every quarter (yuuuck!)
An' it made me poor ol' heart feel sick an' sore (sore 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 stations, boys, be handy!
For we're bound for valaparaiser 'round the horn!

Ah, but jimmy the wop 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 guanner (for guanner?)
An' soon was I a-roarin' this 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 stations, boys, be handy!
For we're bound for valaparaiser 'round the horn!

And I axed the mate a-which a-watch wuz mine-o (wuz mine-o)
Sez he, 'I'ii soon pick out a-which is which' (which! Which!)
An' he blowed me down an' kicked me hard a-stern-o (a-stern-o)
Callin' me a dirty rotten son-o'-a-bitch (bitch 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 stations, boys, be handy!
For we're bound for valaparaiser 'round the horn!

Ah so there I was once again at sea, boys (at sea, boys)
The same ol' garbage over and over again ('gain 'gain)
So on the stamp the caps'n and make some noise, boys (some noise boys!)
And join me all and 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 stations, boys, be handy!
For we're bound for valaparaiser 'round the horn!