It's a damn tough life full of toil and strife
We whalermen undergo
And we won't give a damn when the gale is done
How hard the winds did blow
For we're homeward-bound from the Arctic grounds
With a good ship taut and free
And we won't give a damn when we drink our rum
With the girls of old maui
Rolling down to old maui, me boys
Rolling down to old maui
We're homeward bound from the Arctic grounds
Rolling down to old maui
Once more we sail with a Northerly gale
Through the ice, and wind, and rain
Them coconut fronds
Them tropical shores
We soon shall see again
For six hellish months we passed away
On the cold Kamchatka sea
But now we're bound from the Arctic grounds
Rolling down to old maui
Rolling down to old maui, me boys
Rolling down to old maui
We're homeward-bound from the Arctic grounds
Rolling down to old maui
Once more we sail with the Northerly gale (Hiver, hiver)
Towards our Island home (Hiver, hiver)
Our whaling done, our mainmast sprung (Hiver, hiver)
And we ain't got far to roam (Hiver, hiver)
Our stans'l booms is carried away (Hiver, hiver)
What care we for that sound (Hiver, hiver)
A living gale is after us (Hiver, hiver)
Thank God we're homeward-bound (Hiver, hiver)
Rolling down to old maui, me boys (Hiver, hiver)
Rolling down to old maui (Hiver, hiver)
We're homeward bound from the Arctic grounds (Hiver, hiver)
Rolling down to old maui (Hiver, hiver)
How soft the breeze through the island trees
Now the ice is far astern
Them native maids
Them tropical glades
Is awaiting our return
Even now their big brown eyes look out
Hoping some fine day to see
Our baggy sails running 'fore the gales
Rolling down to old maui
Rolling down to old maui, me boys (Hiver, hiver)
Rolling down to old maui (Hiver, hiver)
We're homeward-bound from the Arctic grounds (Hiver, hiver)
Rolling down to old maui (Hiver, hiver) (Hiver, hiver)