On a ship to the new world,
And 20 days out to sea,
Leaving behind the emerald isle,
Sold into indentured servantry,
Because me da said,” Lass,
The English stole our best,
An’ we’ve become a people with nothing,
For the famine will take the rest.
An’ you should go to the new world,
Where maybe you’ll find your way,
Find your life in the far off colonies,
Sail away , child. Sail away.”

On a ship to the new world,
And 20 days out to sea,
The cap’n tells the first mate,
We’ve run low on provision-ry.
Too far to turn back for Erin land,
And with still 20 days to go,
Before we see the new land,
No matter how the winds might blow.
‘N it was that there was nothing,
‘Cept the dust where the food was stored.
‘N the crew took to eating rats,
‘Til none were left onboard.

On a ship to the new world,
And 30 days out at sea.
‘N I don’t know when the idea began,
But the crew nodded knowingly,
As the hungry weak sleepily passed,
Then around the berths they’d gather,
‘N strip the flesh down to the bone,
‘N then they’d suck out the marrah.
The cap’n told us that he’d provide,
Though he couldn’t make us eat.
‘N we could cry for the saints above,
To come ’n forgive the meat.

On the white capped, wavy ocean,
With only the wind to tell,
My prayers for a far off God,
For surely this sea tossed hell,
Has got to be the furthest from,
The goodness of his blessin’.
Weak and sickly, frailer still,
In the whisper of my confession.
For what could I do in this forlorn place,
But at the table take my seat ,
And pray again as I gagged down,
That stringy, greasy meat ?