The Way A Shanty Oughta Go

Well I don't own an anchor and I've never trimmed the sails

I don't know port from starboard and I've never seen a whale 

I've never hauled away me boys and never gone below 

But I sing this way cause that's the way a shanty oughta go

Well it's not for me grog and that Wellerman never came

I've never known what to do in Broome and that's a bloody shame

I've been bound for South Australia 'cause Cornwall's not my home

And a pirate's not a pirate if that pirates all alone

Well I don't own an anchor and I've never trimmed the sails

I don't know port from starboard and I've never seen a whale 

I've never hauled away me boys and never gone below 

But I sing this way cause that's the way a shanty oughta go

So I kept on hauling and I roused and raised my voice

I went down to the Wee Room 'cause I didn't have a choice

I ducked down from the low bridge, heading down to Buffalo

Where I used to have an English girl who said I had to go

Well I don't own an anchor and I've never trimmed the sails

I don't know port from starboard and I've never seen a whale 

I've never hauled away me boys and never gone below 

But I sing this way cause that's the way a shanty oughta go

Now a poor old man came riding by, as I boarded the Black Ball line

He said that I should leave her Johnny, told me I'd be fine

So I stayed stay no more on England's shore,  I left from Fiddler's Green

Where I met a Highland Laddie who was bound for Aberdeen.

Well I don't own an anchor and I've never trimmed the sails

I don't know port from starboard and I've never seen a whale 

I've never hauled away me boys and never gone below 

But I sing this way cause that's the way a shanty oughta go

Got on board the Sloop John B, headed down to Old Maui

I heard that's where a pirate goes for a bit of rollick-ee

And Santiana beckoned me from the the Plains of Mexico

But both his legs were blown away, I decided not to go

I would've loved a passage on the Pig and Whistle line

Or on the SS Bombo, taking metal from the mine

And I know a Drop of Nelson's Blood, would not have done me harm

But how would I have drunk it with these hooks upon my arms?

Well I don't own an anchor and I've never trimmed the sails

I don't know port from starboard and I've never seen a whale 

I've never hauled away me boys and never gone below 

But I sing this way cause that's the way a shanty oughta go