English translation

On a long voyage, as you know, Ch: As you know! On a long voyage, as you know, the meat we have is tough as leather, Ch: Holderie ya heh, holderie ya heh! Holay! (Repeat second line in each verse and second chorus line) And when we come to Singapore, Ch: Singapore! And when we come to Singapore, the steward there he goes ashore. The steward there he buys a bull, Ch: Buys a bull! The steward there he buys a bull and charges it to the Old Man! And by the mainyard it is hoisted, Ch: It is hoisted! And by the mainyard it is hoisted and dropped down on the afterdeck. The steward holds a great big knife, Ch: Great big knife! The steward holds a great big knife and goes with it the bull to kill. The bull breaks its lashings off, Ch: Lashings off! The bull breaks its lashings off and bumps the steward in the stern. The watch now comes on the run, Ch: On the run! The watch now comes on the run and bashed the bull upon its stern. Now the end of this story it is this, Ch: It is this! Now the end of this story it is this: The bull finished up in the cabin!

This song comes from the early German shanty collection Knurrkahn. It is apparently a true story composed by the German sailors aboard the training ship Arkona in the early 20th century.