Whiskey is the life of man, whiskey from an old tin can, I like whiskey hot and strong and I'll drink whiskey all day long, whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, rise it up from down below whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, rise it up from down below whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, whiskey, whiskey, whiskey-oh, up aloft this yard must go come rise him up from down below.
I'll drink it hot, I'll drink it cold I'll drink it new, I'll drink it old some like whisket, some like beer I wish I had a barrel here whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, rise it up from down below whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, rise it up from down below whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, whiskey, whiskey, whiskey-oh, up aloft this yard must go come rise him up from down below.
Whiskey killed my sister Sue and whiskey killed my brother too whiskey killed my poor old Dad and whiskey drove my Mother mad whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, rise it up from down below whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, rise it up from down below whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, whiskey, whiskey, whiskey-oh, up aloft this yard must go come rise him up from down below.
If whiskey comes to near my nose it's 'up-she-comes' and 'down-she-goes' a glass of grog for every man and a bottle full for the Shantyman whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, rise it up from down below whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, rise it up from down below whiskey-oh, Johnny-oh, whiskey, whiskey, whiskey-oh, up aloft this yard must go come rise him up from down below.