He's been too long on the beach with the ocean out of reach, Shellback, shellback, oh! First he spent his time at fishing, long beach walks and reminiscing, Shellback, shellback, oh! But the sea is in his blood, the tide is at the flood; He's looking for a chance to sail away, For salt in the blood never goes away He's just got to go to sea one day.
He's seen clippers off the Horn as on the storms they're borne… He's seen St. Elmo's lights on a misty tropic night… He's seen the Southern Stars and been in all the dives and bars… Sometimes he'd wish that he was back at home, For salt in the blood never goes away He's just got to go to sea one day.
He'd sail on anything on Earth if he only had a berth… He should be warping through the locks instead of walking up the docks… But along the Quay he'll pace, the wind is in his face… He's looking for a chance to sail away, For salt in the blood never goes away, He's just got to go to sea some day.