When I was young and handsome, lads, As handsome as could be, I said goodye [terrar] to me mother-in-law Away I went to sea. I went aboard a schooner, boys, The schooner Mary Anne And we set sail for Walton Gaol Up the Manchester Ship Canal.
Well, the captain was a sailor, lads, He'd never been to sea before. He knew as much about the sea As the knob on our wash-house [shit-house] door. All day he slept on the upper deck, All night he slept below And he paid the crew a lousy screw, We were glad to see him go.
Now the quality of Mersey, boys, It isn't strained at all It's full of ships [shit] and seaweed And it tastes like paraffin oil. We had to drink it every day For beer we'd never see, And I scarcely thing we'll get a drink Till we get to Wallasey.