Ben Backstay was a boatswain,
A very merry boy,
For no one half so more merrily
Could pipe all hands ahoy.
And when unto his summons
We did not well attend,
No lad than he more merrily
Could handle a rope's end
Could handle a rope's end
Could handle a rope's end
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de radlle day
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de radlle day
While sailing once our Captain
Who was a jolly dog
Served out to all our company
A double whack of grog
Ben backstay he got tipsy
All to his hearts content
And he being half seas over
Right overboard he went
Right overboard he went
Right overboard he went
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de radlle day
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de raddle day
A shark was on the starboard bow
And Sharks no man can stand
For they do grapple everything
Just like your sharks on land
We heaved Ben out some tackling
To give his life some hope
But as the shark bit his head off
He couldn't see the rope
He couldn't see the rope
He couldn't see the rope
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de radlle day
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de raddle day
Without a head his ghost appeared
All on the briny lake
He piped all hands ahoy and cried
Lads warning by me take
By drinking grog I lost me life
And you my fate you meet
So never mix your liquors lads
But always take it neat
But always take it neat
But always take it neat
Singing chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de radlle day
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de riddle ido,
Chip cho, cherry cho,
Fol de raddle day