Oh, as I was a walkin’ down London road, I come to Paddy West’s house
He gave me a feed of American hash, and he called it Liverpool scouse
He said, ”There’s a ship that’s wantin’ hands, and on her you quickly sign
Her mate is a bastard, her bosun’s worse, but she will suit you fine.”
Take off your dungaree jackets and give yourselves a rest
And we’ll think of them cold nor’westers that we had at Paddy West’s
Well, when I’d had a feed, me boys, the wind began to blow;
He sent me up in the attic, the main-royal for to stow
But when I got up in the attic, no main-royal could I find
So I turned around to the window and I furled the window blind
Take off your dungaree jackets and give yourselves a rest
And we’ll think of them cold nor’westers that we had at Paddy West’s
Now Paddy he piped all hands on deck, their stations for to man
His wife stood in the doorway with a bucket in her hand;
And Paddy sings out, “Now let 'er rip!” and she flung the water our way
Sayin', “Clew up your fore t'gan'sl, boys, she's takin' in the spray!”
Take off your dungaree jackets and give yourselves a rest
And we’ll think of them cold nor’westers that we had at Paddy West’s
Now seein' we're off to the south'ard, boys, to Frisco we was bound
Old Paddy he called for a length of rope and he laid it on the ground
And we all stepped over and back again, and he says to me, “That's fine
Now when they ask if you've been to sea you can say you've crossed the Line.”
Take off your dungaree jackets and give yourselves a rest
And we’ll think of them cold nor’westers that we had at Paddy West’s
“Now there's only one thing for you to do before you sail away
That's to step around the table, where the bullock's horn do lay
And when they ask you, ‘Was you ever at sea?’, you can say, ’Ten times 'round the Horn.’
And Bejesus, you're a sailor since the day that you was born.”
Put on your dungaree jacket, and walk up lookin' your best
And tell 'em you're an old sailor man that's come from Paddy West's