This is the way I've always sung it. Got it from the singing of, damn, the name just went out of my head, one of the singer/collectors.

Paddy Maloney left Ireland in glee
He took a strange notion to cross the Ross
He shipped on a whalecatcher South Georgia bound
And the way that she slipped made his head go around

Caterwhauling Tarpaulin Harpoonin and all

Now Paddy had never been whaling before
And it made his heart leap when he heard the wild roar
As the lookout he cried that a whale he had spied
Begod says poor Pat I'll be et by and by

chorus

Now Paddy ran forward and reached for the mast
He caught it a gripper and there he held fast
But the boat she did pitch and then she did flip
And in the whale's belly poor Paddy did slip

chorus

Paddy lived in that whale for six months and a day
Till one morning by luck to the shore he made way
Well she did whoop and then she did blow
And a mile in the air went Paddy Moloney

chorus

Now Paddy was washed up quite safe on the shore
And he swears that he'll not go to sea anymore
And if ever he gets such a fanciful notion
It'll be when the railway runs over the ocean

Chorus

Marc Bridgham