Am
From Tortuga's port we put to sea
    G
And sailed for sixteen days
       Am
In the biggest storm I'd ever seen
   G               Am
We almost lost our way
       Am
When a call came from a deckhand
         G
“Boys, I think she’s going down
    Am
But don’t you fear
        G
There’s enough rum here
   G              Am
To drink until we drown!”

Ho!

[Chorus]

Am
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
G
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
Am
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
G              Am
Ear-lie in the morning
Am
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
G
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
Am
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
G              Am
Ear-lie in the morning

[Verse 2]

        Am
So this deckhand grabbed a barrel
          G
Broke the seal and took a swig
    Am                         
And soon their screams turned into songs
      G                         Am
Their panicked work turned into jigs
    Am
The first mate bellowed orders
     G
Ever trying to save their skins
     Am
“Any drunken retch the captain catch
      G                  Am
He’ll beat all limb from limb!”

Ho!

[Chorus]


Am
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
G
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
Am
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
G              Am
Ear-lie in the morning
Am
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
G
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
Am
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
G              Am
Ear-lie in the morning

[Verse 3]

      Am
Every man continued drinking
          G
All their duties long forgot
          Am
They were deaf to every order
          G              Am
‘Til they heard a pistol shot
    Am     
The captain stood on fo'c'stle
          G
Swung the cat above his head
Am
“Back to yer post, or by my ghost
G                       Am
Ye’ll wish that ye were dead!”

[Chorus]

Am
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
G
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
Am
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
G              Am
Ear-lie in the morning
Am
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
G
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
Am
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
G              Am
Ear-lie in the morning

[Verse 4]

      Am
Every drunk received a beating
            G
Some of the drunker managed two
    Am
The captain kept an eye
           G              Am
Until he’d sobered up his crew
   Am
He then retired to quarters
        G
Put the rum upon his shelf
    Am
Sat in his seat, put up his feet
    G              Am
And drank the rest himself!

[Chorus]

Am
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
G
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
Am
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
G              Am
Ear-lie in the morning
Am
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
G
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
Am
Hoo-ray and up she rises (Hoo-ray)
G              Am
Ear-lie in the morning

[Outro]

Am
Put him in the longboat ‘til he’s sober
Am
Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Am
Throw him in the hold with the captain’s daughter
G              Am
Ear-lie in the morning