It was a cold and frosty morning in December, (December)
And all of me money it was spent (spent, spent),
Where it went to Lord I 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 Valaparaiso 'round the Horn!
That day I heard there was a great demand for sailors (sailors!),
For the Colonies for 'Frisco and for France (Oh, mondieu!),
So I shipped aboard the Haddock's boat the Sirius (the Sirius),
And got paralytic drunk on my 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 Valaparaiso 'round the Horn!
Now I joined her on a cold December mornin', (the morning!)
A-frappin' o' me flippers to keep me warm. (yoreleí)
With the south cone a-hoisted as a warnin', (a warning!)
To stand by the comin' 0' a storm. (llamps i trons!)
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 Valaparaiso 'round the Horn!
Now some of our fellers had been drinkin', (been drinkin')
An' I meself wuz heavy on the booze; (nit bus!)
An' I wuz on me ol' sea-chest a-thinkin' (a thinkin'?)
I'd turn into me bunk an' have a snooze.
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 Valaparaiso 'round the Horn!
And then, I woke up in the mornin' sick an' sore, (soooooore)
An' knew I wuz outward bound again; (we're bound again!)
When I heard a voice a-bawlin' at the door, (the door?)
'Lay aft, men, an' answer to yer names!' (YARR! Aixequeu-vos!)
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 Valaparaiso 'round the Horn!
For we're bound for Valaparaiso 'round the Horn!