G
'Twas a cold an' dreary mornin' in December, (December)
D
Well all of me money it was spent (spent spent)
G
Where it went to Lord I barely can't remember (remember)
So down to the shippin' office went, (went went)
[Chorus]
C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
G C G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
G D G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !
[Verse 2]
G
Ah, that day there wuz a great demand for sailors (for sailors)
D
For the Colonies and for 'Frisco and for France (France France)
G
So I shipped aboard a Limey barque the Hotspur (the Hotspur)
C D G
An' got paralytic drunk on my advance ('vance, 'vance)
[Chorus]
C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
G C G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
G D G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !
[Verse 3]
G
'Twas on the quarterdeck where first I saw 'em (I saw 'em)
D
Such an ugly bunch I'd niver seen before ('fore 'fore)
G
For the Captain had shipped a crew of Belgians (Yuuuck !)
C D G
An' it made me poor ol' heart feel sick an' sore (sore sore)
[Chorus]
C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
G C G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
G D G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !
[Verse 4]
G
Ah, but Jimmy the Rat he knew a thing or two, sir (Or two, sir)
D
An' soon he'd shipped me outward bound again ('gain 'gain)
G
On a Limey to the Chinchas for guanner (For guanner ?)
C D G
An' soon was I a-roarin' this refrain ('frain 'frain)
[Chorus]
C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
G C G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
G D G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !
[Verse 5]
G
And I asked the mate a-which a-watch wuz mine-O (Wuz mine-O)
D
Says he, 'I'II soon pick out a-which is which' (Which ! Which !)
G
An' he blowed me down an' kicked me hard a-stern-O (A-stern-O)
C D G
Callin' me a dirty rotten son-o'-a-bitch (Bitch bitch)
[Chorus]
C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
G C G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
G D G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !
[Verse 6]
G
Ah so there I was once again at sea, boys (At sea, boys)
D
The same ol' garbage over and over again ('gain 'gain)
G
So on the stamp the caps'n and make some noise, boys (Some noise boys !)
C D G
And join me all and singing the ol' refrain ('frain 'frain)
[Chorus]
C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
G C G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
G D G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !
