I've travelled about a bit in me time, of troubles I've seen a few
I found it far better in every clime to paddle me own canoe
Me wants they are small I care not at all, me debts they are paid when due
I drive away strike from the ocean of life and paddle me own canoe

And I have no wife to bother me life, no lover to prove untrue
The whole day long I laugh with the song and paddle me own canoe

So love everybody, trust only the few as the world I go travelling through
And never sit down with a tear and a frown, but paddle your own canoe
I rise with the lark from daylight to dark, I do what I have to do
I'm careless in wealth, I've only me health to paddle me own canoe

And I have no wife to bother me life, no lover to prove untrue
The whole day long I laugh with the song and paddle me own canoe

It's all very well to depend on a friend, that is if you proved him true
You'll find it better by far in the end to paddle your own canoe
To borrow is dearer by far than to buy, a saying though old still true
You never will sigh if you only will try to paddle your own canoe

And I have no wife to bother me life, no lover to prove untrue
The whole day long I laugh with the song and paddle me own canoe

Though England has ruled our small little land and manys the country too
Just take my advice and never think twice to paddle your own canoe
It's better I say to make your own way as the world you go travelling through
You never will sigh if you only will try to paddle your own canoe

And I have no wife to bother me life, no lover to prove untrue
The whole day long I laugh with the song and paddle me own canoe