When I was a little boy my mother always told me
’Way, haul away, we’ll haul away Joe
That if I did not kiss the girls my lips would all grow moldy
’Way, haul away, we’ll haul away Joe
Once in my life I married a wife but she was fat and lazy…
’Way, haul away, we’ll haul and sing together
’Way, haul away, we’ll haul away Joe
Once I was in Ireland, a-digging turf and taters
But now I’m on a Limey ship, a-hauling on the braces
St. Patrick drove away the snakes, then drank up all the whiskey
This made him dance and sing a jig, he felt so fine and frisky
’Way, haul away, we’re bound for better weather
’Way, haul away, we’ll haul away Joe
You call yourself a second mate but you can’t tie a bowline
You cannot even stand up straight when the ship it is a-rolling
The cook is in the galley making duff so handy
The captain’s in his cabin drinking wine and brandy
’Way, haul away, the good ship now is rolling
’Way, haul away, we’ll haul away Joe