Ships may come, and ships may go
As long as the seas do roll
Each sailor lad, likewise his dad
They love that flowing bowl
Alas, ashore he does adore one that's plump and round…
(Chorus)
But when your money's all gone
It's the same old song,
Get up Jack, John sit down
Come along, come along now me jolly brave boys
There's lots more grog in the jar
We'll plow the briny ocean with the jolly rovin' tar
When Jack's ashore it's plain he'll steer
For some old boarding house
He's welcomed in with rum and gin
Likewise with port and stout
He'll lend and spend and never offend, 'till he lies drunk on the ground…
(Chorus)
And now he'll sail on board some ship
To India or Japan
In Asia there, the ladies fair
All love the sailor man
He'll go ashore all in a tear, and buy some girl a gown…
(Chorus)
Jack is old, weather beat
To old to roust about
He'll make his way to some grog shop
'Till the bells call him out
He'll raise his eyes right up to the sky, saying boys we're homeward bound
(Chorus x2)