We are all born free but forever live in chains
And we battle to existence on and on
We'll take whatever comes to be while keeping hopeful melody
And we'll cruise through the darkness until the warmth of dawn

So row row you bastards you never can tell
Through water like glass above a briney hell
So row and a-hollar come give her all you can
Or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land

We carry on the burden and we hide our grimace well
For the day will come for us to mutiny
But as long as we survive our hope and pride they can't deprive
And we'll carry on our melody to sing in harmony

So row row you bastards you never can tell
Over water like glass above a briney hell
So row and a-hollar come give her all you can
Or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land

So row row ye bastards you never can tell
The ocean a tempest or the land a stormy hell
So row and a-hollar till bloody oar in hand
Or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land

We are wracked from the hardships
Exhausted by the years we can still escape this barren misery
But even with our shackled wrists we can fight our way through this
And we'll power all aboard the ship to total liberty

So row row ye bastards you never can tell
The ocean a tempest or the land a stormy hell
So row a little harder till bloody oar in hand
Or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land