Hey sailor lad come see my ship, I’ve seen the power of your grip
Heave ho leave, come away /
Oh Johnny, I don’t trust this man, I smell a mischief in his plan
I’m sure I saw him fighting yesterday

Hey sailor lad if you’ve a thirst, I’ll fill you ’til your liver’s burst
Heave ho leave, come away /
Oh Johnny, don’t you touch a drop, you know you don’t know when to stop
And when you’re drunk, you’re liable to sway

Oh the King’s Shilling
Take it / Don’t take it in your hand
Oh the King’s Shilling
Behold it / But hold it
And be damned 

Hey sailor lad, come board the deck, or I will wring your wretched neck
Heave ho leave, come away /
Oh Johnny, do not show your fear and stand your ground we need you here
What will become of us if you don’t stay?

Hey sailor lad, if you resist, you’ll feel the fury of my fist
Heave ho leave, come away /
Oh Johnny, please don’t heed this knave, I see a vision of your grave
Use every ounce of strength to disobey

Oh the King’s Shilling
Take it / Don’t take it in your hand
Oh the King’s Shilling
Behold it / But hold it
And be damned 

Every day more fodder for the cannon
Every day more sailors to the brine
The shackled and unwilling
Pay their debt to the King’s shilling
And every day more women left behind

 

Hey sailor lad, get you to boat, I hold a dagger to your throat
Heave ho, leave, come away /
Oh villain, is your heart a stone? We’ve seven children not yet grown
Have pity on our family, I pray

You whining wench, go sling your hook, you’ve floors to scrub and pies to cook
Heave ho, leave, go away /
Oh villain, since you paid no mind, I’ll come and stab you from behind
My kitchen knife is now your judgement day!

Oh the King’s Shilling
Take it / Don’t take it in your hand
Oh the King’s Shilling
Behold it / But hold it
And be damned