[Verse 1]
I thought I heard the Captain say
Pay me my money down
Tomorrow is our sailing day
Pay me my money down

[Chorus]
Oh, pay me, oh, pay me
Pay me my money down
Pay me or go to jail
Pay me my money down

[Verse 2]
As soon as the boat was clear of the bar
Pay me my money down
The captain knocked me down with a spar
Pay me my money down

[Chorus]
Oh, pay me, oh, pay me
Pay me my money down
Pay me or go to jail
Pay me my money down

[Verse 3]
If I'd been a rich man's son
Pay me my money down
I'd sit on the river and watch it run
Pay me my money down
[Chorus]
Oh, pay me, oh, pay me
Pay me my money down
Pay me or go to jail
Pay me my money down

[Verse 4]
I wish I was Mr Gates
Pay me my money down
They'd haul my money in in crates
Pay me my money down

[Chorus]
Oh, pay me, oh, pay me
Pay me my money down
Pay me or go to jail
Pay me my money down

[Verse 5]
Well 40 nights, nights at sea
Pay me my money down
Captain worked every last dollar out of me
Pay me my money down

[Chorus]
Oh, pay me, oh, pay me
Pay me my money down
Pay me or go to jail
Pay me my money down
Oh, pay me, oh, pay me
Pay me my money down
Pay me or go to jail
Pay me my money down