Oh say were you ever in Rio Grande?
Oh, you Rio!
It’s there that the river runs down golden sand
And we’re bound for the Rio Grande
Then away, love, away
Oh! You Rio!
Sing fare-ye-well to my pretty young girl
And we’re bound for the Rio Grande
This old New York town is no place for me
I’ll pack up my sea-chest and get off to sea
Now all you beach comers we’ll have you to know
We’re bound for the south’ard and glad for to go
So it’s put down your bag and get it unpacked
The sooner we leave here the quicker we’re back
There’s some of us sick and there’s some of us sore
We’ve scoffed all our whack and we’re looking for more
Our ship went sailing out over the bar
We pointed her nose towards the southern star
Them Liverpool judies they never use combs
They comb out their locks with a haddock’s backbone
Cheer up Mary Ellen an’ don’t look so glum
On white stockin’ day ye’ll be drinkin’ hot rum
We’ve a bully good ship with a bully good crew
But we don’t like the grub, no I’m damned if we do
The anchor is weighed and our sails are all set
The girls that we’re leaving we’ll never forget