The wind it blew from sou'-sou'east, it blew a pleasant breeze,
And the man up on the lookout cried, "A light upon our lee!"
They reported to the captain, and these words he did say,
"Oh, cheer up, my jolly sailor lads, it's the light on Cape May!"

Ch: It's watch 'er, it's catch 'er
She's up in the jubeju!
It's brace her yards and give her sheet
And the boys'll put her through.
For the wind it was blowing
And also it was free,
On our passage home from Liverpool
To Phil-a-del-fi-ee.

The pilots, they boarded her, they boarded her in time
Saying, "Keep her off by nor'-nor'-west to clear the Brandywine!"
For the wind it was blowing, and also it was free,
On our passage home from Liverpool to Phil-a-del-fi-ee.

Come all you men and maidens as wishes for to sail,
And I soon will let you quickly hear of where you must aroam.
We'll embark into a ship, which her topsails is let fall,
And all unto an is-le-and, and never more go home.

Especially you ladies that's anxious for to rove,
There's fishes in the sea, my love, likewise the buck and doe,
We'll lie down on the banks of some pleasant shady grove,
Thro' the wild woods we'll wander, and we'll chase the buffalo,
And we'll chase the buffalo,
Thro' the wild woods we'll wander
and we'll chase the buffalo.

The gallant frigate, Amphitrite, she lay in Plymouth Sound,
Blue Peter at the foremast head for we were outward bound;
We was waiting there for orders to send us far from home;
Our orders they come for Rio, and thence around Cape Horn.

When we arrived in Rio we prepared for heavy gales;
We bent on all the rigging, me boys, bent on all new sails.
From ship to ship they cheered us as we did sail along,
And they wished us pleasant weather in the rounding of Cape Horn.

In beating off Magellan Strait it blew exceeding hard;
Whilst shortening sail two gallant tars they fell from the topsail yard.
By angry seas the ropes we threw from their poor hands was torn
We were forced to leave them to the sharks that prowl around Cape Horn.

Now when we got round the Horn, my boys, we had some glorious days
And very soon our killick dropped in Valparaiso Bay.
Them pretty girls came down in flocks; I solemnly declare
That they are far before the Plymouth girls with their long and curling hair.

Because they love a jolly sailor when he spends his money free,
They'll laugh, they sing, they merry, merry be, they enjoy a jovial spree.
And when your money it is all gone they won't on you impose,
They are not like them Plymouth girls that'll pawn and sell your clothes.

So it's farewell to Valparaiso and farewell for a while,
Likewise to all them pretty Spanish girls all along the coast of Chile;
If ever l live to be paid off l'll sit and I'll sing this song:
"God bless them pretty Spanish girls we left around Cape Horn."