Once a sailor, sailing the sea
Once a sailor, born to be free
Once a sailor, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a farmer, plowing my field
Once a farmer, pitchfork I wield
Once a farmer, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a blacksmith, hammering steel
Once a blacksmith, fixing your wheel
Once a blacksmith, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a beggar, sitting in the street
Once a beggar, begging for a treat
Once a beggar, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a miner, working the mine
Once a miner, where the sun never shines
Once a miner, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a tanner, made leather a belt
Once a tanner, rich but I smelled
Once a tanner, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a barmaid, pouring the beer
Once a barmaid, once drinks held my dear
Once a barmaid, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a soldier, patrolling the streets
Once a soldier, with ache in my feets
Once a soldier, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a cleric, walking God's way
Once a cleric, to the Lord I prayed
Once a cleric, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a gilder, making overlays of gold
Once a gilder, making beautiful and bold
Once a gilder, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a hangman, stringing folks up high
Once a hangman, an unpleasant way to die
Once a hangman, but now I've become
A pirate for the rum
Once a pirate, pillaging the seas
Once a pirate, no chains for me
Once a pirate, but now I've become
No, we will always be pirates