Version 1 → 2

Lyrics

1 Sittin' at the dockside, linin' for fish,1 Sittin' at the dockside, linin' for fish,
2 With all idle time that a man could wish-2 With all idle time that a man could wish-
3The world goes black with a crack on the head,3The world goes black with a crack on the head,
4Wake with an ache and a belly unfed,4Wake with an ache and a belly unfed,
5Take a look around and you wish you were dead-5Take a look around and you wish you were dead-
6'Cause you're WORKIN' ON A SLAVER!6'Cause you're WORKIN' ON A SLAVER!
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8 SINGIN' "YO HO, CRACK YOUR BACK IN TWO!"8 SINGIN' "YO HO, CRACK YOUR BACK IN TWO!"
9 AS YOU PULL THE OAR OF THE GALLEY ON!9 AS YOU PULL THE OAR OF THE GALLEY ON!
10 "YO HO, CRACK YOUR BACK IN TWO!"10 "YO HO, CRACK YOUR BACK IN TWO!"
11 AS YOU ROW YOUR SOUL AWAY!11 AS YOU ROW YOUR SOUL AWAY!
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13Can't wait in the mornin' for the day to end,13Can't wait in the mornin' for the day to end,
14And the touch of the whip is your only friend-14And the touch of the whip is your only friend-
15They'll work ya' hard and they'll work ya' fast,15They'll work ya' hard and they'll work ya' fast,
16When you get enough courage to talk at last,16When you get enough courage to talk at last,
17Then they'll wrap your entrails around the main mast-17Then they'll wrap your entrails around the main mast-
18When you're WORKIN' ON A SLAVER!18When you're WORKIN' ON A SLAVER!
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20Well, the food they serve ends up at your feet,20Well, the food they serve ends up at your feet,
21If you eat ship rats then ya' get more meat!21If you eat ship rats then ya' get more meat!
22You raise the oar at the captain's call,22You raise the oar at the captain's call,
23And no one claims that it hurts 'em at all,23And no one claims that it hurts 'em at all,
24For it's nothin' when compared to a good keel haul-24For it's nothin' when compared to a good keel haul-
25When you're WORKIN' ON A SLAVER!25When you're WORKIN' ON A SLAVER!
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27 What do you do with a broken sailor?27 What do you do with a broken sailor?
28 Earli in the mornin'?28 Earli in the mornin'?
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30 WAY HAY, AND UP HE RISES30 WAY HAY, AND UP HE RISES
31 EARLI IN THE MORNIN'?31 EARLI IN THE MORNIN'?
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33 Throw him over board and drag him on the anchor!33 Throw him over board and drag him on the anchor!
34 Earli in the mornin'?34 Earli in the mornin'?
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36 Feed 'im to the sharks 'til the bones is floatin!36 Feed 'im to the sharks 'til the bones is floatin!
37 Earli in the mornin'?37 Earli in the mornin'?
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39 Hang 'im from the mast as a Jolly Roger!39 Hang 'im from the mast as a Jolly Roger!
40 Earli in the mornin'?40 Earli in the mornin'?
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42Well, there is no escapin' from the devilish pit,42Well, there is no escapin' from the devilish pit,
43If you talk revolution then your tongue gets split-43If you talk revolution then your tongue gets split-
44Ya' can't speak truth and ya' don't dare lie,44Ya' can't speak truth and ya' don't dare lie,
45If ya' make them kill you then you're braver than I,45If ya' make them kill you then you're braver than I,
46For they think of hellish ways for a man to die!46For they think of hellish ways for a man to die!
47When you're WORKIN' ON A SLAVER!47When you're WORKIN' ON A SLAVER!