Ben Backstay was our boatswain, a very merry boy
For no one half so merrily, could pipe all hands ahoy
And when unto his summons, we did not well attend
No lad than he more merrily, could handle the rope’s end
Could han-dle the rope’s end, could han-dle the rope’s end
Singing chip chow cherry chow fol de riddle idle ow
Chip chow cherry chow fol de riddle day (x2)
While sailing once our Captain, who was a jolly dog
Served out to all our company, a double share of grog
Ben Backstay he got tipsy, all to his heart’s content
And he being half seas over, boys, right overboard he went
Right o-ver-board he went, right o-ver-board he went
A shark was on the starboard bow, and sharks no man can stand
For they do grapple everything, just like your sharks on land
We heaved Ben out some tackling, to give his life some hope
But as the shark bit his head off, so he couldn't see the rope
So he could-n’t see the rope, he could-n’t see the rope
Without his head his ghost appeared, all on the briny lake
He piped all hands ahoy and cried, "Lads warning by me take
By drinking grog I lost my life, and you my fate could meet
So never mix your rum me lads, but always take them neat
But al-ways take them neat, but al-ways take them neat