I sometimes sing this one as a variant of Polly on the Shore. My version is fairly colloquial, to add a bit of colour.

Come all you wild young men,
and a warning take by me,
never to spend your single life astray
into no bad company.

Bold Carter it is my name,
and hard was my intent,
till I was pressed by a press gang agent
and into a man-of-war I was sent.

We hadn't been sailing long
when the first thing we espied,
was five French ships, they were sailing as to war,
and at length we were going to draw nigh.

We hoisted our colours high,
and the bloody red flag we did fly.
Let every man stay true to his gun,
for Lord knows who must die.

Our captain was wounded full sore,
and so were the rest of our men.
Our mainmast rigging was all shot away,
and we were obliged to give in.

The decks ran red with blood,
and the cannons so loud did roar,
and thousands of times I wished myself at home,
with Polly I left upon the shore.

She's a tall and a slender young girl,
with a dark and a roving eye.
And here am I lying bleeding on a deck,
when for her sweet sake, I'd die.

Farewell my parents and friends.
Likewise, my dear Polly too.
I'd never have sailed on the wild salt sea,
if I'd have been ruled by you.
If I'd have been ruled by you.

I'd never have sailed on the wild salt sea,
if I'd have been ruled by you.