G
'Twas a cold an' dreary mornin' in December, (December)
                            D
Well all of me money it was spent (spent spent)
G
Where it went to Lord I barely can't remember (remember)

So down to the shippin' office went, (went went)

[Chorus]
                 C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
                   G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G                                        D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
     G              C               G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
          G               D                  G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !

[Verse 2]
G
Ah, that day there wuz a great demand for sailors (for sailors)
                                         D
For the Colonies and for 'Frisco and for France (France France)
G
So I shipped aboard a Limey barque the Hotspur (the Hotspur)
C                  D          G
An' got paralytic drunk on my advance ('vance, 'vance)

[Chorus]
                 C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
                   G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G                                        D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
     G              C               G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
          G               D                  G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !

[Verse 3]
G
'Twas on the quarterdeck where first I saw 'em (I saw 'em)
                                  D
Such an ugly bunch I'd niver seen before ('fore 'fore)
G
For the Captain had shipped a crew of Belgians (Yuuuck !)
C                  D                        G
An' it made me poor ol' heart feel sick an' sore (sore sore)

[Chorus]
                 C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
                   G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G                                        D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
     G              C               G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
          G               D                  G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !

[Verse 4]

G
Ah, but Jimmy the Rat he knew a thing or two, sir (Or two, sir)
                                       D
An' soon he'd shipped me outward bound again ('gain 'gain)
G
On a Limey to the Chinchas for guanner (For guanner ?)
C                D             G
An' soon was I a-roarin' this refrain ('frain 'frain)

[Chorus]
                 C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
                   G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G                                        D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
     G              C               G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
          G               D                  G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !

[Verse 5]

G
And I asked the mate a-which a-watch wuz mine-O (Wuz mine-O)
                                       D
Says he, 'I'II soon pick out a-which is which' (Which ! Which !)
G
An' he blowed me down an' kicked me hard a-stern-O (A-stern-O)
C                  D               G
Callin' me a dirty rotten son-o'-a-bitch (Bitch bitch)

[Chorus]
                 C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
                   G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G                                        D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
     G              C               G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
          G               D                  G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !

[Verse 6]
G
Ah so there I was once again at sea, boys (At sea, boys)
                                   D
The same ol' garbage over and over again ('gain 'gain)
G
So on the stamp the caps'n and make some noise, boys (Some noise boys !)
C                   D               G
And join me all and singing the ol' refrain ('frain 'frain)

[Chorus]
                 C
Paddy, lay back (Paddy, lay back) !
                   G
Take in yer slack (take in yer slack) !
G                                        D
Take a turn around the capstan, heave a pawl
     G              C               G
All around ship stations, boys, be handy
          G               D                  G
For we're bound for Valaparaiser 'round the Horn !