It was afternoon when the Ajax left,

Oh me lads look lively

The gentle waves off Sydney Heads,

Out on the briny sea

’Twas James M Hutton at the wheel,

Oh me lads look lively

A captain forged from the finest steel,

Out on the briny sea

Shoalhaven bound with a dredge in tow,

Oh me lads look lively

Fresh from Cockatoo docks was the Pluto,

Out on the briny sea

The Wollongong lights were in view by nine,

Oh me lads look lively

Captain went below, left the mate on line,

Out on the briny sea

A’fore midnight chimed the mate called down,

Oh me lads look lively

We are sunk a’stern and like to drown,

Out on the briny sea

In a boat, four men and the mate cut away,

Oh me lads look lively

While the captain steered Kiama way,

Out on the briny sea

William White was the engineer,

Oh me lads look lively

The young boy John and the Captain dear,

Out on the briny sea

These three and the pilot saved the ship,

Oh me lads look lively

They got a silver watch and a handsome tip,

Out on the briny sea