71 - Paddy Lay Back

‘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 your slack (take in your slack)
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a-pawl (heave a-pawl!)
About ship’s station boys be handy (be handy!)
For we’re off to Valparaiso round the Horn

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 bark, ‘The Hotspur’ (The Hotspur!)
And I got paralytic drunk on my advance (vance! vance!)

Paddy lay back (Paddy lay back)…

There were Dutchmen, Spaniards, and Russians (Russians!)
And jolly boys just across from France (France! France!)
Not a one of them could speak a word of English (of English!)
But the answered to the name of ‘Month’s Advance’ (vance! vance!)

Paddy lay back (Paddy lay back)…

Now some of the lads they had been drinkin’ (drinkin’!)
And meself was heavy on the booze (booze! booze!)
So I sat upon my old sea-chest a -thinkin’ (a-thinkin!)
That I’d crawl into me bunk and have a snooze (snooze! snooze!)

Paddy lay back (Paddy lay back)…

I woke up in the morning sick and sore (sick and sore!)
For I knew I was outward bound again (gen! gen!)
When I heard a voice bawling at the door (the door!)
Get up ye bastard and listen to your name (name, name)

Paddy lay back (Paddy lay back)…

Well I wish I was in the Jolly Farmers (the Farmers!)
Along with Irish navvies drinkin’ beer (beer, beer!)
When I thought what jolly lads were sailors (were sailors!)
And with me flipper I wiped away a tear (tear, tear!)

Paddy lay back (Paddy lay back)…

drinking