No future was there in London for a poor man’s son like me So I left my home and went to seek my fortune on the sea I signed aboard a merchant ship bound for the West Indies And six weeks out we tacked into the winds of pyracy
There were sails on the horizon, and we tried to make a run And when we saw that black flag, then our runnin’ it was done And when those pyrates boarded us, they told us one by one “You can die or join our crew, me boys, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum!”
Chorus Time flyes when you’re havin’ rum, me boys, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum When you’re sailin’ under the black flag, and you’re firin’ all your guns When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb The voyage’ll be over soon enough, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum
With a pistol to my forehead, then my choice was all too clear I took leave of that merchant ship and became a buccaneer And though they spared my life, I think that if the truth be told I joined them for the promise of adventure, rum, and gold
The quartermaster handed me a cutlass and a gun And as I signed their articles, the captain told me, “Son, Us gentlemen o’ fortune live life fast ’n’ on the run So step right up and takes your share, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum!”
Chorus
For two long years I sailed with them around the Spanish Main And we captured ships from Portugal, from England, France, and Spain And we took what we could and we gave none back, for that’s the pyrates’ code And the wake we left in the Caribbean Sea ran red with blood
Now the admiralty in London sent a fleet to hunt us down And a traitor in Port Royale told them where we could be found They surrounded us in Nassau, the captain shouted, “Let ’em come! The fight’ll be over soon enough, times flyes when you’re havin’ rum!”
Chorus
We ran the red flag up and then we readied all our guns No quarter would we give, and in return expected none We got off one good broadside but outnumbered 10 to 1 They took out half our crew and then our pyrating was done
They took us back to London town under key and lock And the hangman’s noose was swingin’ at the Execution Dock The captain turned ’n’ said to me, “We had fine sailin’, son, The voyage it was over all too soon, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum!”
Chorus
(Slower) Now as you listen to this tale, by now, I’m sure you have surmised That I slipped the hangman’s cable and escaped him with my life But how I got away, well that’s another story, son (Faster) My voyages they aren’t over yet, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum!