Paddy Lay Back

Lyrics

[Intro] Are you ready kids? I can't hear you [Verse 1] 'Twas a cold and dreary morning in December (December) And all of my money it was spent (Spent, spent) And where it went to, well, I can't remember (Remember) So down to the shipping office went (Went, went) [Chorus] Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) Take in your slack (Take in your slack) Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl 'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy (Be handy) We're bound for Valparaíso 'round the Horn [Verse 2] Well, back then thеre was a great demand for sailors (For sailors) For thе colonies, for Frisco and for France (France, France) (Bonjour) So I jumped aboard a Limey barque, the Hotspur (The Hotspur) Got paralytic drunk on my advance (Advance-vance) [Chorus] Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) Take in your slack (Take in your slack) Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl 'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy (Be handy) We're bound for Valparaíso 'round the Horn [Verse 3] It was on the quarterdeck when I first saw 'em (First saw 'em) Such an ugly bunch I'd never seen before (Seen before) (Gross) And there was bum and stiff from every quarter (A quarter) It made me 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 the capstan, heave a pawl (Heave a pawl) 'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy (Be handy) We're bound for Valparaíso 'round the Horn [Verse 4] There were Russ-i-ans and Dutchmen and Spaniards (Spaniards) And Johnny Crapoos, just across from France (France, France) (Bonjour) And none could hardly speak a word of English (English?) (Bonjour) But answered to the name of "Month's Advance" (Vance, vance) [Chorus] Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) Take in your slack (Take in your slack) Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl (Heave a pawl) 'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy (Be handy) We're bound for Valparaíso 'round the Horn [Verse 5] Oh, I wish that I was in The Jolly Sailor (The Sailor) Along with Katie Sky a-drinking beer (Beer, beer) And then I thought, "What jolly chaps are sailors, eh?" (Are sailors) And with me flipper wiped away a tear (Tear, tear) (Boo-hoo) [Chorus] Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) Take in your slack (Take in your slack) Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl 'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy (Be handy) We're bound for Valparaíso 'round the Horn [Verse 6] So here we are, once again at sea, boys (At sea, boys) The same old bloody story over again (Over again) So stamp around the capstan, give a cheer, boys (Huzzah!) And sing again this beautiful refrain [Chorus] Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) Take in your slack (Take in your slack) Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl (Heave a pawl) 'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy (Be handy) We're bound for Valparaíso 'round the Horn Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) Take in your slack (Take in your slack) Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl (Heave a pawl) 'Bout ship's stations, boys, be handy (Be handy) We're bound for Valparaíso 'round the Horn