Hey, walk her 'round, heave and heave her short again
Over, snatch her over, there, and hold her on the pawl
Loose all sail, and brace your yards aback and full
Ready jib to pay her off and heave short all
Well, fare three well, we can stay no more with you, my love
Down, set down your liquor and your girl from off your knee
The wind has come to say, you must take me while you may
We're bound to Mother Carey where she feeds her chicks at sea
Hey, walk her 'round, break her, break it out o' that
Break our starboard bower out, apeak, awash, and clear
Port, port she casts, with the harbour-roil beneath her foot
And that's the last o' bottom we shall see this year
Well, fare thee well, for we've got to take her out again
Take her out in ballast, riding light and cargo-free
And it's time to clear and quit, when the horse grips the bitt
So we'll pay you with the foresheet and a promise from the sea
Hey, tally on, aft and walk away with her
Handsome to the cathead, now, oh tally on the fall
Stop, seize and fish, and easy on the davit-guy
Up, well up the fluke of her, and inboard haul
Well, fare thee well, for the Channel wind's took hold of us
Choking down our voices as we snatch the gaskets free
It's blowing up for night and she's dropping light on light
And she's snorting under bonnets for a breath of open sea
Wheel, full and by, we'll smell her road alone to-night
Sick she is and harbour-sick, oh sick to clear the land
Roll down to Brest with the old Red Ensign over us
Carry on and thrash her out with all she'll stand
Well, fare thee well, and it's Ushant gives the door to us
Whirling like a windmill on the dirty scud to lee
The last flicker goes from the tumbling water-rows
And we're off to Mother Carey, walk her down to Mother Carey
We're bound for Mother Carey where she feeds her chicks at sea