On the road that runs to the harbour wall
Where the lubbering landsmen sleep
I hear a strange mysterious call
‘Tis the call of the ocean deep

I must go down to the sea
To the sea in a rollocking boat
Where the breakers roar
And the salt spray flies
And a sailoring man can stretch his eyes
Why! Here’s a boat. Come let us set it afloat

Hey Ho! for the open sea
With a scudding sail and a sharp wind’s kiss
And I say to myself, say I, “Why this!
This is the life for me”

With a tiller that kicks like a living thing
While the mainbrace sings on high
(Sing on, old mainbrace)
I think whatever the sea may bring
Ready, I’m ready am I

O to be riding high
In the teeth of a thundering gale
With the decks awash
And the bowsprit’s crack
As I bring her about on the starboard tack
Why! Here’s a gale
I must go down to the poop
No thanks, I won’t have any soup
I seem to be suddenly taken queer
If somebody else would like to steer
I’m feeling o, o, o…

Carry me back to the land
Pebble, mud or sand
O to be back on the beach once more
On the still dry land

From the road that runs by the harbour wall
I gaze at the bounding main
And I hear that strange mysterious call
‘Tis the call of the sea again
(O! Not again! No!)

I must go down to the sea
To the sea in a rollocking boat
Where the breakers roar
And the salt spray flies
And a sailoring man can stretch his eyes
Thank God! No boat!