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!
English translation