'Twas a cold and frosty morning in December
And all of me money it was spent
Where it went to, Oh Lord, I can't remember
So down to the shipping office went

Sing Paddy lie back, sing Paddy lie back
Take in yer slack, take in yer slack
Take yer turn, put on yer caps and leap aboard
About ships for England boys be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the horn

Oh, last night there was a great demand for sailors
For the colonies, for 'Frisco and for France
So I shipped aboard a limey barque, "The Hotspur"
And was paraletic drunk before I went

Sing Paddy lie back, sing Paddy lie back
Take in yer slack, take in yer slack
Take yer turn, put on yer caps and leap aboard
About ships for England boys be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the horn

There were Frenchmen, there were Germans, there were Russians
And there was Jolly Jacques came just across from France
And not one of them could speak a word of English
But they'd answer to the name of Bill or Dan

Sing Paddy lie back, sing Paddy lie back
Take in yer slack, take in yer slack
Take yer turn, put on yer caps and leap aboard
About ships for England boys be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the horn

I woke up in the morning sick and sore
I wished I'd never sailed away again
Then a voice it came thundering thru' the floor
Get up and pay attention to your name

Sing Paddy lie back, sing Paddy lie back
Take in yer slack, take in yer slack
Take yer turn, put on yer caps and leap aboard
About ships for England boys be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the horn

I wish that I was in the Jolly Sailor
With Molly or with Kitty on me knee
Now I see most any men are sailors
And with me flipper I wipe away my tears

Sing Paddy lie back, sing Paddy lie back
Take in yer slack, take in yer slack
Take yer turn, put on yer caps and leap aboard
About ships for England boys be handy
For we're bound for Valipariso 'round the horn