First I was a waiting man that lived at home at ease
And now I am a mariner that ploughs the angry seas
I thought I'd like seafaring life, so I bid my love adieu
And shipped aboard as steward, my boys, on board the Kangaroo
But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue
Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo

"Cheer up! Cheer up! my own true love, don't weep so bitterly."
Well, she sobbed, she sighed, she mourned, she cried, she would not say goodbye
"I won't be gone so very long, maybe a month or two
And when that I return again, fair maid, I'll marry you."
But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue
Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo

Now I wasn't gone so very long upon these foreign shores
And many's the fine presents unto my love I bore
I bought tortoises from Tenerife, toys from Timbuktu
And a China rat and a Bengal cat and a Bombay cockatoo
But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue
Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo

So, paid up, I sought her dwelling in the southern part of town
Where an ancient dame upon a line was hanging out her gowns
"Where is my love?" - "She's married, sir, about a month ago
To a fine young man that drives a van for Chapman Son & Co."
But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue
Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo
So here's health to the dreams of married life, and the soap and the suds and blue
And a heart's true love and patent starch, I'll bid you all adieu
I'll go on to some foreign land, no longer can I stay
And on some Chinese Hottentot I'll throw myself away
But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue
Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo