It was a cold and dreary morning in December (December) 
And all of me money it was spent (spent, spent) 
Where it went to, I can’t remember (remember) 
So down to the shipping office I went (off I went)

 [bad word] 
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back) 
Take in your slack (take in your slack) 
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl. 
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Handy!) 
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn

Well it seems there was a great demand for sailors (for sailors) 
For the colonies, and for Frisco and for France (France, France) 
Well, I shipped aboard the limey barque the Hotspur (the Hotspur) 
And got paralytic [bad word] on my advance (my ad-vance)

 [bad word] 
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back) 
Take in your slack (take in your slack) 
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl. 
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Handy!) 
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn

Well, I joined her on a cold December morning (morning) 
A-flapping of me flippers to keep me warm (keep me warm) 
With the south cone hoisted as a warning (a warning) 
To stand by [bad word] of a storm

 [bad word] 
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back) 
Take in your slack (take in your slack) 
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl. 
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Handy!) 
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn

Well, I woke up in the morning stiff and sore (sore) 
And I knew that I was outward bound again (bound again) 
And a [bad word] a-bawling at the door (door) 
Lay aft men, and answer to your name (to your name)

 [bad word] 
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back) 
Take in your slack (take in your slack) 
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl. 
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Handy!) 
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn

Now it was on the quarter deck when first I seen ‘em (seen ‘em) 
Such an ugly bunch I never seen before (seen before) 
Cause there was a bum and stiff from every quarter (quarter) 
And it made my poor old heart feel sick and sore (sore, sore)

 [bad word] 
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back) 
Take in your slack (take in your slack) 
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl. 
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Handy!) 
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn