'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 Valparaiso '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 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 stations, boys, be handy!
For we're bound for Valparaiso '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 (Eughhh!)
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 Valparaiso '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 (for guano?)
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 Valparaiso 'round the Horn!

And I asked the mate a-which a-watch wuz mine-O (wuz mine-O)
Sez he, 'I'II soon find 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 Valparaiso 'round the Horn!
Ah, so there I was-a 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 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 Valparaiso 'round the Horn!