And the way you send me, my dear Annie,
Oh, you St. John's girls can't you dance the polka?
Ye landsmen and you seamen, come listen to my song,
It's of a trick was played on me, it won't delay you long;
I came from sea the other day, a fair girl I did meet,
She kindly asked me to a dance was up on Peter Street.
And the way you send me, my dear Annie,
Oh, you St. John's girls can't you dance the polka?
And as the dance was over, straight to the bed did go,
Was little did I ever think she'd pull my overthrow;
Robbed my gold watch, and thirty pounds, a pack of fags and fled,
And left me here stark naked, alone upon the bed.
And the way you send me, my dear Annie,
Oh, you St. John's girls can't you dance the polka?
When I awoke in the morning it was nothing did I spy,
But a woman's shirt and apron upon the bed did lie;
I wrung my hands, I tore my hair, I cried, what shall I do?
For tonight I'm bound for Wicklow town, no more will I see you.
And the way you send me, my dear Annie,
Oh, you St. John's girls can't you dance the polka?
Now as the streets were lonesome at the hour of two o'clock,
I put on me shirt and apron and marched down to the dock;
The crew they saw me coming and these words to me did say,
My dear old Jack, you've struck a snap since you've been gone away.
And the way you send me, my dear Annie,
Oh, you St. John's girls can't you dance the polka?
Are those the new spring fashions that the ladies wear on shore?
Where is the shop you bought 'em at, and is there any more?
The captain on the quarterdeck looked at me with a frown,
Sayin', Jack, I'd buy a better suit than that for thirty pounds.
And the way you send me, my dear Annie,
Oh, you St. John's girls can't you dance the polka?
Ye landsmen and you seamen, a warning take by me,
Be sure to choose good company when you go out on spree;
'Cause if you do you'll surely rue, you'll find yourself like me,
With a woman's shirt and apron for to fit you out for sea!
And the way you send me, my dear Annie,
Oh, you St. John's girls can't you dance the polka?
And the way you send me, my dear Annie,
Oh, you St. John's girls can't you dance the polka?