Sing Ho! for a brave and a gallant ship with a fair and a favoring breeze
With a goodly crew and a captain, too, to carry me over the seas
To carry me over the seas, me lads, to me true love far away
For I'm taking a trip on a government ship, Ten Thousand Miles Away
And sing Blow, me bully-boys, blow! A-roving I will go
I'll stay no more on England's shore to hear the music play
I'm off on the bounding main, and I won't be back again
For I'm taking a trip on a government ship, Ten Thousand Miles Away
Oh, me true love she was beautiful, me true love she was young!
Her eyes were like the diamonds bright, and silvery was her tongue
And silvery was her tongue, me lads, As the big ship left the bay
And she said will you remember me, Ten Thousand Miles Away
And sing Blow, me bully-boys, blow! A-roving I will go
I'll stay no more on England's shore to hear the music play
I'm off on the bounding main, and I won't be back again
For I'm taking a trip on a government ship, Ten Thousand Miles Away
Oh well now, dark and dismal was the day when last I'd seen me Meg
She'd a government band around each hand and another one around her leg
And another one around her lag, me lads, as the big ship sailed away
And I swore that I'd be true to her, Ten Thousand Miles Away
And sing Blow, me bully-boys, blow! A-roving I will go
I'll stay no more on England's shore to hear the music play
I'm off on the bounding main, and I won't be back again
For I'm taking a trip on a government ship, Ten Thousand Miles Away
Oh well, I wish I was a bosun bold, or even a bombardier,
I'd build a boat and away I'd float and straight for me true love steer
And straight for me true love steer, me lads, where the dancin' dolphins play,
And the whales and sharks have all of their larks, Ten Thousand Miles Away
And sing Blow, me bully-boys, blow! A-roving I will go
I'll stay no more on England's shore to hear the music play
I'm off on the bounding main, and I won't be back again
For I'm taking a trip on a government ship, Ten Thousand Miles Away
Oh well, the sun may shine through a London fog, or the river run quite clear,
Or the ocean brine might turn to wine, or I'll forget me beer
Or I'll forget me beer, me lads, or the landlord's quarter-day
But I won't forget me own true Meg, Ten Thousand Miles Away
And sing Blow, me bully-boys, blow! A-roving I will go
I'll stay no more on England's shore to hear the music play
I'm off on the bounding main, and I won't be back again
For I'm taking a trip on a government ship, Ten Thousand Miles Away