[INTRO:] GCGDG
[VERSE 1:]
C
While cruisin' 'round Yarmouth one day for a spree
GD
I met a fair damsel, the wind blowing free
GCG
"I'm a fast-going clipper, my kind sir", says she
CG
"I'm ready for cargo, my hold is quite free"
[CHORUS:]
C
Singing, fal de-ral laddie, right fal de-ral lay
GDG
Fal de-ral laddie, right fal de-ral day
[VERSE 2:]
C
What country she came from, I could not tell which
GD
But by her appearance I thought she was Dutch
GCG
Her flag wore its colours, her masthead was low
CG
She was round at the quarters and bluff in the bow
[CHORUS:]
C
Singing, fal de-ral laddie, right fal de-ral lay
GDG
Fal de-ral laddie, right fal de-ral day
[VERSE 3:]
C
She took me upstairs and her tops'l she lowered
GD
In a neat little parlour she soon had me moored
GCG
She laid in her foresails, her staysails and all
CG
With her lily-white hand on my reef-tackle fall
[CHORUS:]
C
Singing, fal de-ral laddie, right fal de-ral lay
GDG
Fal de-ral laddie, right fal de-ral day
[INSTRUMENTAL:] GCGDGCGCGCGDG
[VERSE 4:]
C
I said, "Pretty fair maid, it's time to give o'er
GD
For 'twixt wind and water, you've run me ashore
GCG
Me shot-locker's empty, me powder's all spent
CG
I can't fire a shot for it's choked to the vent"
[CHORUS:]
C
Singing, fal de-ral laddie, right fal de-ral lay
GDG
Fal de-ral laddie, right fal de-ral day
[VERSE 5:]
C
Here's luck to the girl with the black curly locks
GD
Here's luck to the girl who ran Jack on the rocks
GCG
Here's luck to the doctor who eased all his pain
CG
He squared his main yards, he's a-cruisin' again
[CHORUS:]
C
Singing, fal de-ral laddie, right fal de-ral lay
GDG
Fal de-ral laddie, right fal de-ral day