A boy to me was bound apprenticed Because his parents they were poor. So I took him from St. James' workhouse All for to sail on the Greenland shore.
One day this poor boy he did annoy me Nothing to him then did I say But I rushed him to my frozen yardarm And I kept him there 'til early next day.
When his eyes and his teeth hang before me With his hands and his feet down bowed And with a tarry gasket there I killed him For I would not hear his cries below I would not hear his cries below
Now all you sea captains that navyin here' Take a fair advantage by me Don’t abuse your young apprentice boys Or else its hanged you'd surely be.