Whilst we were sailin’ over A shining salty ocean We saw upon the waters A Spanish treasure Galleon We dropped the heavy canvas As we readied up the guns fast We cruised right up beside her And we blew right through her main mast
Rah jah shun jolly lugga mugah! We’ll dance with Johnny Ketch The noose around our necks There’s rum inside the flask
We cast the weathered gangplank From one timber to the other And boarded treasure galleon As a band of pirate brothers We slashed and shot through Spaniards ’Til we came upon the captain Yet when we came to face him All our spirits were disheartened
Rah jah shun jolly lugga mugah! We’ll dance with Johnny Ketch The noose around our necks There’s rum inside the flask
Well as we met the captain We met least a dozen muskets A great barrage of bullets Tore our flesh and stained our jackets Those of us still breathing Tried to scramble back to gangplank But bastard Spanish cannons Had our brigantine all but sank
Rah jah shun jolly lugga mugah! We’ll dance with Johnny Ketch The noose around our necks There’s rum inside the flask
As prisoners we were taken Back to the Cuban mainland Where rope and gallows waited For our sad and sorry sea band Yet as we climb the gallows We do not regret our journeys For we lived our lives as pirates And I’m dyin’ with me hearties
Rah jah shun jolly lugga mugah! We’ll dance with Johnny Ketch The noose around our necks There’s rum inside the flask