Oh Johnny was a rover
And today he sails away
Ch: Heave away, my Johnny, heave away
Oh Johnny was a rover
And today he sails away
Ch: Heave away, my bully boys, we're all bound to go

As I was walking out one day,
Down by the Albert Dock
I heard an emigrant Irish girl
Conversing with Tapscott

"Good morning, Mister Tapscott, sir"
"Good morn, my gel," sez he,
"It's have you got a Packet Ship
All bound for Amerikee?"

"Oh yes, I've got a Packet Ship,
I have got one or two.
I've got the Jenny Walker,
and I've got the Kangeroo."

"I've got the Jenny Walker
And today she does set sail,
With five and fifty emigrants
And a thousand bags o' male (meal)."

Bad luck to thim Irish sailor boys,
Bad luck to thim I say.
For they all got drunk, and broke into me bunk
And stole me clo'es away.

You captains bold and brave, hear our cries, hear our cries
You captains bold and brave, hear our cries
You captains brave and bold, though you seem uncontrolled
Don't for the sake of gold lose your souls.
Don't for the sake of gold lose your souls.

My name was Robert Kidd, when I saild, when I said,
My name was Robert Kidd, when I sail'd,
My name was Robert Kidd, God's laws I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did, when I sail'd.

My parents taught me well, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
My parents taught me well, when I sail'd,
My parents taught me well, to shun the gates of hell,
But against them I rebell’d, when I sail'd.

I cursed my father dear, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
I cursed my father dear, when I sail'd,
I cursed my father dear, and her that did me bear,
And so wickedly did swear, when I sail'd.

I made a solemn vow, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
I made a solemn vow, when I sail'd,
I made a solemn vow to God I would not bow,
Nor myself one prayer allow, as I sail'd.

I'd a Bible in my hand, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
I'd a Bible in my hand, when I sail'd,
I'd a Bible in my hand by my father's great command,
And sunk it in the sand, when I sail'd.

I murdered William Moore, as I said, as I sail'd.
I murdered William Moore, as I sail'd,
I murdered William Moore, and left him in his gore,
Not many leagues from shore, as I sail'd.

And being cruel still, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
And being cruel still, as I sail'd,
And being cruel still, my gunner I did kill,
And his precious blood did spill, as I sail'd.

My mate was sick and died, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
My mate was sick and died, as I sail'd,
My mate was sick and died, which me much terrified,
When he call'd me to his bedside, as I sail'd.

And unto me he did say, see me die, see me die,
And unto me did say, see me die,
And unto me did say, take warning now by me,
There comes a reckoning day, you must die.

You can not then withstand, when you die, when you die,
You can not then withstand, when you die,
You can not then withstand the judgment of God's hand,
But bound then in iron bands you must die.

I was sick and nigh to death, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I was sick and nigh to death, as I sail'd,
I was sick and nigh to death, and I vow'd at every breath,
To walk in wisdom's ways, as I sail'd.

I thought I was undone, as I sail'd, 28 I sail'd,
I thought I was undone, as I sail'd,
I thought I was undone and my wicked glass had run,
But health did soon return, as I sail'd.

My repentance lasted not, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
My repentance lasted not, as I sail'd,
My repentance lasted not, my vows I soon forgot,
Damnation's my just lot, as I sail'd.

I steer'd from sound to sound, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I steer'd from sound to sound, as I sail'd,
I steer'd from sound to sound and many ships I found
And most of them I burned, as I sail'd.

I spy'd three ships from France, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I spy'd three ships from France, as I sail'd,
I spy'd three ships from France to them I did advance,
And took them all by chance, as I sail'd.

I spy'd three ships of Spain, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I spy'd three ships of Spain, as I sail'd,
I spy'd three ships of Spain, I fired on them amain,
Till most of them were slain, as I sail'd.

I'd ninety bars of gold, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I'd ninety bars of gold, as I sail'd,
I'd ninety bars of gold and dollars manifold,
With riches uncontrolled, as I sail'd.

Then fourteen ships I saw, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
Then fourteen ships I saw, as I sail'd,
Then fourteen ships I saw and brave men they were,
Ah! they were too much for me, as I sail'd.

Thus being o'ertaken at last, I must die, I must die,
Thus being o'ertaken at last, I must die,
Thus being o'ertaken at last, and into prison cast
And sentence being passed, I must die.

Farewell the raging main, I must die, I must die,
Farewell the raging main, I must die,
Farewell the raging main, to Turkey, France, and Spain,
I ne'er shall see you again, I must die.

To Newgate now I'm cast, and must die, and must die,
To Newgate now I'm cast, and must die,
To Newgate I am cast, with a sad and heavy heart,
To receive my just desert, I must die.

To Execution Dock I must go, I must go,
To Execution Dock I must go,
To Execution Dock will many thousands flock,
But I must bear the shock, I must die.

Come all you young and old, see me die, see me die,
Come all you young and old, see me die,
Come all you young and old, you're welcome to my gold,
For by it I've lost my soul, and must die.

Take warning now by me, for I must die, for I must die,
Take warning now by me, for I must die,
Take warning now by me, and shun bad company,
Lest you come to hell with me, for I must die.

Don't mind the rain or the rolling sea,
The weary night never worries me.
But the hardest time in sailor's day
Is to watch the sun as it dies away.
It's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line.

The finest ship that sailed the sea
Is still a prison for the likes of me.
But give me wings like Noah's dove,
I'd fly up harbour to the girl I love.
It's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line.

There was a time my heart was free
Like a floating spar on the open sea.
But now the spar is washed ashore,
It comes to rest at my real love's door.
It's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line.

Every time I gaze behind the screws
Makes me long for old Peter's shoes.
I'd walk right down that silver lane
And take my love in my arms again.
It's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line.

Oh Lord, if dreams were only real
I'd have my hands on that wooden wheel.
And with all my heart I'd turn her round
And tell the boys that we're homeward bound.
It's one more day on the Grey Funnel Line.

I'll pass the time like some machine
Until blue water turns to green.
Then I'll dance on down that walk ashore
And sail the Grey Funnel Line no more.
And sail the Grey Funnel Line no more.