Once I found a stowaway
Upon my ship on Christmas Day
I was fair so I gave him a chance
"You shouldn't be here,
What's your tale?
I ought to throw you to the whale."
He just smiled and said, [bad word] here, let's dance."

He said, "Borrow or steal,
I'll find a way
To be with my lover upon Christmas Day
And [bad word] and I'll roam
I'll cover the ground
This Christmas I'll see you
I'll be around."

He told me 'bout his girl back home
Waiting patient, all alone
While we danced I shed a little tear
He closed his eyes, all out at sea,
I think he danced with her not me
I'll just have to wait another year.

He said, "Borrow or steal,
I'll find a way
To be with my lover upon Christmas Day
And [bad word] and I'll roam
I'll cover the ground
This Christmas I'll see you
I'll be around."

I think of him now and again
I wonder how his journey ends
As I sail by on my lonesome sea
That stranger with the haunting face
Here then gone without a trace
Lying with his love, that's where he'll be.

"Beg, borrow or steal
I'll find a way
To be with my lover next Christmas Day
And [bad word] and I'll roam
I'll cover the ground
Next Christmas I'll see you
I'll be around."