As I walked out on a London Street A press gang there I chanced for to meet They asked me if I'd join the fleet On board of a man-o-war, boys Pray brother shipmates tell me true What sort of usage they give you That I may know before I go On board of a man-o-war, boys But when I went to my surprise All that they told me was shocking lies There was a row and a bloody old row On board of a man-o-war, boys The first thing they did they took me in hand They flogged me with a tarry strand They flogged me till I could not stand On board of a man-o-war, boys They hung me up by my two thumbs And they cut me till the blood did run And that was the usage they gave me On board of a man-o-war, boys I married a wife and her name was Grace I oft times cursed her ugly face Saying it's you that has brought me to this disgrace On board of a man-o-war, boys If I could get one foot on shore Some other pretty girls I'd marry once more Neither winds nor waves would entice me any more On board of a man-o-war, boys