A boat Lies south of Ailsa Craig in the waning of the light
There's thirty men in Lendalfit to make our burdens light
And there's thirty horse at Hazleholm with the halters on their heids
All set this night up on your life if the wind and water speed

Smugglers drink on the Frenchmen's wine
And the darkest night is the smuggler's time
Away we ran from the excise man!
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me!

Oh, lass ye hae a cosy bed, and cattle ye have ten
Can ye no live a lawful life, and live wi' lawful men?
But must I live with hamely goods, when there's foreign gear sae fine?
Must I drink at the waterside and France is full of wine?

Smugglers drink on the Frenchmen's wine
And the darkest night is the smuggler's time
Away we ran from the excise man!
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me!

O well, I'd like to see ye Kate with a baby on thy knee
But my heart is now with a gallant crew that ploughs through the angry sea
The bitter gales, the tightest sales, the sheltered bay our goal
It's the wayward life, it's the smugglers strife, it's the joy of the smugglers soul
Smugglers drink on the Frenchmen's wine
And the darkest night is the smuggler's time
Away we ran from the excise man!
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me!

And when at last the sun comes up and the cargo safely stored
Like sinless saints to church we'll go, God's mercy to afford
And the champagne fine for communion wine and the parson drinks it too
With a smile he prays, "forgive these men, for they know not what they do"

Smugglers drink on the Frenchmen's wine
And the darkest night is the smuggler's time
Away we ran from the excise man!
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me!
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me!