Oh, times were hard and the wages low
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
I guess it’s time for us to go
It’s time for us to leave her
Beware these packet ships, I say
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
They’ll steal your stores and your clothes away
It’s time for us to leave her
There’s Liverpool Pat with his tarpaulin hat
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
And Yankee John, the pocket rat
It’s time for us to leave her
She would not wear and she would not stay
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
She shipped great seas both night and day
It’s time for us to leave her
Its rotten beef and waverly bread
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
It was pump or drown, the old man said
It’s time for us to leave her
The sails all furled, our work is done
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
And now ashore we’ll take our run
It’s time for us to leave her
Oh, what will us poor shellbacks do
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Our money’s gone, more work to do
It’s time for us to leave her