Paddy Layback

[Verse 1]
It was a cold and dreary morning in December (December)
And all of me money it was spent (Spent, spent)
And where it went, I swear, I can’t remember (Remember)
So down to the shipping office I went (Off I went)

[Chorus]
A paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (Take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Be handy!)
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn

[Verse 2]
Well it seems there was a great demand for sailors (For sailors)
For the colonies, for Frisco and for France (France, France)
Well, I shipped aboard the limey barque the Hotspur (The Hotspur)
And got legless drunk on my advance (My advance)

[Chorus]
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (Take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Be handy!)
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn

[Verse 3]
Well, I joined her on a cold December morning (Morning)
A-flapping of me flippers to keep me warm (Keep me warm)
With the south cone hoisted as a warning (A warning)
To stand by the coming of a storm

[Chorus]
A paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (Take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Be handy!)
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn

[Verse 4]
Well, I woke up in the morning stiff and sore boys (Sore boys)
And I knew that I was outward bound again (Bound again)
And a voice come a-bawling at the door, boys (Door, boys)
Lay aft men, and answer to your name (To your name)

[Chorus]
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (Take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Be handy!)
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn

[Verse 5]
It was on the quarter deck when first I seen ’em (Seen ’em)
Such an ugly bunch I never seen before (Seen before)
There was a bum and stiff from every quarter (Quarter)
And it made my poor old heart feel sick and sore (Sore, sore)

[Chorus]
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (Take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Be handy!)
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn