Oh, the times are hard and the wages low,
Amelia, where you bound to?
The Rocky Mountains is my home,
Across the Western Ocean.

The land of promise there you'll see;
I'm bound across that Western sea.

I'll take my way from Liverpool
In Liverpool, that Yankee school

There's Liverpool Pat in a tarpaulin hat,
And Yankee Jack, the packet rat.

Beware these packet ships, I say,
They steal your stores and clothes away.

We are going away from friends and home,
We are going away to search for gold.

Fathers and mothers, say good-by,
Sisters and brothers, don't you cry.

As I rov'd out one ev'ning fair
It being in the summertime to take the air
I spied a sailor and a lady gay
And I stood listen
To hear what they would say.

He said "Fair lady, why do you roam
For the day it is spent and the night is on."
She heaved a sigh, while the tears did roll
"For my dark-eyed sailor,
So young and stout and bold.

"'Tis seven long years since he left the land,
A ring he took from off his lily-white hand
One half of the ring is still here with me,
But the other's rolling,
At the bottom of the sea."

He said, "Ye may drive him out of your mind,
Some other young man you'll surely find;
Love turns aside and soon cold does grow,
Like a winter's morning,
The hills all white with snow."

She said, "I'll never forsake my dear,
Although we're parted this many a year.
Genteel he was and rake like you,
To induce a maiden,
To slight the jacket blue."

One half of the ring did young William show,
She ran distracted in grief and woe,
Saying, "William, William, I have gold in store
For my dark-eyed sailor,
Has proved his overthrow."

There is a cottage by yonder lea,
This couple's married and does agree;
So maids be loyal when your love's at sea,
For a cloudy morning,
Brings in a sunny day.

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.