A is for the Anchor that lies at our bow, B is for the Bowsprit an' the jibs all lie low, Oh! C is for the Caps'n we all run around, D is for the Davits to low'r the boat down.
Sooo! merrily, so merrily, so merrily sail we, There's no mortal on earth like a sailor at sea, Blow high or blow low! as the ship sails along, Give a sailor his grog an' there's nothing goes wrong!
E is for the Earring when reefing we haul, F is for the Fo'c'sle where the bullies do brawl, Oh! G is for the Galley where the saltjunk smells strong, H is for the Halyards we hoist with a song. I is for the Eyebolt - no good for the feet, J is for the Jobs, boys, stand by the lee sheet, Oh! K is for the Knightheads where the shantyman stands, L is for the Leeside hard found by new hands. M is for the Maindeck - as white as new snow, N is for the Negro gals in the land to which we go, Oh! O is for the Orlop, 'neath the 'tweendecks it lays, P is for the Peter flow on sailin' day. Q is for the Quadrant - to the wheel it lies near, R is for the Rudder - it helps us to steer, Oh! S is for the Sheerpole over which we must climb, T is for the Topman, 'way loft every time. U is for the Uniform - only worn aft, V is for the Vangs running from the main gaff, Oh! W is for the Water - we're on pint and pound, X marks the spot where Ol' Stormy was drowned. Y is for the Yard-arm - needs a good sailorman, Z is for Zoe - I'm her fancy-man, So this is the end of me bully ol' song. Heave away, buckos, oh, heave long an' strong!

Source: Stan Hugill, Shanties and Sailors' Songs

Sailor’s Alphabet is an alphabetical forebitter, sung in the forecastle for entertainment rather than to accompany work. Each stanza works through four letters of the alphabet, associating each with a piece of ship’s gear or a feature of sailor life, making it a useful mnemonic for learning a ship’s terminology. Stan Hugill notes that while it was sometimes used at the pumps, it was more often “sung simply for fun.”

Similar alphabetical songs existed among lumberjacks, soldiers, and bargemen, reflecting a widespread tradition of occupational mnemonics in working-class song, with the Lumberman’s Alphabet being perhaps the best-known of the type.

A brief survey of versions shows that the opening and closing letters are fairly consistent across traditions, while the middle of the alphabet varies the most from singer to singer:

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