She was used, she was abused, she never knew she was a victim
A drunken father's pleasure before she was half grown
Her ma ignored and she endured until one night in anger
She broke the bottle on his head and launched out on her own

So you can think that she's your Polly on the shore
She'll be your mother or your sister or your whore
She'll be waving 'til you're safely out of view
Then she's looking for another sailor gullible as you

She headed down to Sailortown began her education
But Polly knew the only way to win was fighting back
She learned the ropes and fleeced the dopes and dreamed above her station
She kept half of everything she ever stole from Jack

When the crimp said her ma was dead she wished she could have cried
As rumours of a drunken murder spread to Sailortown
But pa went free with drunken glee so Polly had him Shangai'd
He woke up on a hellship Yokohama bound

Now Polly dines on finest wines she is quite the lady
And she owns almost everything in dirty Sailortown
And Polly hires and Polly fires and Polly says what may be
But maybe Polly can't forget enough to settle down