Pirates at sea then sailed up
From their island hideaway
Rolled off of their ship
And here's what they had to say

"Captain Erbayshun wants a cabin-boy,
To fetch rum and brew,
And to swab our grimy decks,
And the crow's nest too!"

(But) no boy heard them callin'
No boy came outdoors
'Cause they were too 'fraid of swabbin' Old Erbayshun's floors

So they kidnapped me then
Back out we went to sea
Captain Erbayshun filled my life with misery

"Climb up the mast,"
Erbayshun said to me
"Me crow's nest, needs a sweep, so swab it me hearty!"

"Climb up the mast,"
Erbayshun said to me
"And then swab, me poop deck, with water from the sea!"


(instrumental)


Seventy-three drunk sailors
From the Ca-rib-be-an Sea
Climbed onto our ship
And we had a big par-ty

They're swillin' every rum their eyes set on
Then they found some more
And they quaffed their minds away
Erbayshun then roared

"Climb up the mast,"
Erbayshun said to me
"Me amazed, how me men, are havin' fun at sea!"

"Climb up the mast,"
Erbayshun said to me
"Polish me, spyglass son, an' hold it up for me!"

"Climb up the mast,"
Erbayshun said to me
"Shinnying, up me mast, Erbayshun loves to see!"