I was a poor lad from Newcastle town I had no da and my mother was gone I needed work ‘cause I wanted to eat So went to the river and in a boat I’ve hid I became deck-hand on a merchant ship The work of a sailor, aye, that I did. The food was scarce and a hammock was bed But work was a-plenty and rum in a keg The ocean was calm and the Sun blazing heat When on the horizon a tall mast appeared Above the sails she was flying a flag And oh God save me! The flag was black The ship was wobbling and ploughing the waves Came evening were singing and drink with my mates Dice on the table and sour wine we had And we were even in all good and bad. Gunfight and bloodshed, they took the ship All of my mates and the captain was killed The water turned red and blood drenched the deck But when the smoke was gone, I still wasn’t dead. The ship was wobbling and ploughing the waves Came evening were singing and drink with my mates Dice on the table and sour wine we had And we were even in all good and bad.