It's a damn tough life full of toil and strife we whalermen undergo And we don't give a damn when the gale is done how hard the winds did blow 'Cause we're homeward bound from the Arctic Ground on a good ship taut and free And we won't give a damn when we drink our rum with the girls of old Maui
Rollin' down to old Maui, me boys, rollin' down to old Maui We're homeward bound from the Arctic Ground, rollin' down to old Maui
Once more we sail with the northerly gale through the ice and wind and rain Them coconut fronds, them tropical lands, we soon shall see again Six hellish months we've passed away on the cold Kamchatka Sea, But now we're bound from the Arctic Ground, rollin' down to old Maui
Rollin' down to old Maui, me boys, rollin' down to old Maui We're homeward bound from the Arctic Ground, rollin' down to old Maui
Once more we sail with the northerly gale towards our island home Our main mast sprung, our whaling done, and we ain't got far to roam Our stuns'l boom is carried away, what care we for that sound A living gale is after us, thank God we're homeward bound
Rollin' down to old Maui, me boys, rollin' down to old Maui We're homeward bound from the Arctic Ground, rollin' down to old Maui
How soft the breeze through the island trees, now the ice is far astern Them native maids them tropical glades is awaiting our return Even now, their big brown eyes look out, hoping some fine day to see Our baggy sails running 'fore the gales, rollin' down to old Maui
Rollin' down to old Maui, me boys, rollin' down to old Maui We're homeward bound from the Arctic Ground, rollin' down to old Maui
We'll heave the lead where old Diamond Head moves up on Oahu Our masts and yards are sheathed with ice and our decks are hid from view The horrid ice of the sea-caked isles that deck the arctic sea Are miles behind in the frozen wind since we steered for old Maui
Rollin' down to old Maui, me boys, rollin' down to old Maui We're homeward bound from the Arctic Ground, rollin' down to old Maui
And now we're anchored in the bay, with kanakas all around With chants and soft alo-ha-ois, they greet us homeward bound And now ashore, we'll have good friends, we'll paint them beaches red Awaken in the arms of an island maid with a big fat achin' head
Rollin' down to old Maui, me boys, rollin' down to old Maui We're homeward bound from the Arctic Ground, rollin' down to old Maui
Rollin' down to old Maui, me boys, rollin' down to old Maui We're homeward bound from the Arctic Ground, rollin' down to old Maui