Bosun, dear Bosun, come back with me, now!
The clock on the steeple strikes one;
You said you were coming straight back to the ship,
As soon as your screwing was done.
Our first mate has gone out, the fo'castle's all dark,
And the captain's been waiting since tea,
With poor cabin boy Benny so sick in his arms,
And no one to help him but me.
Come home, come home, come home!
Please bosun, dear bosun come home.

Bosun, dear Bosun, come back with me, now!
The clock on the steeple strikes two;
The night has grown colder and Benny is worse,
But he has been calling for you.
Indeed his is worse, Cap'n says he will die
Perhaps before morning shall dawn;
And this is the message he sent me to bring,
"Come quickly! Or he will be gone."
Come back, come back, come back!
Please bosun, dear bosun come home.

Bosun, dear Bosun, come back with me, now!
The clock on the steeple strikes three,
The ship is so lonely, the hours so long
For the poor weeping Captain and me.
Poor Benny is dead, you'll do him no more
And gone to he angels of light,
And these were the very last words that he said
"I want to kiss my Bosun goodnight."
Come home, come home, come home!
Please Bosun, dear Bosun come home.