Well, I thought I heard the captain say,
"Pay me my money down.
Tomorrow is my sailing day,
pay me my money down."
Oh, pay me. Pay me.
Pay me my money down.
Pay me or go to jail.
Pay me my money down.
Soon as that boat was clear of the bar,
pay me my money down,
well, he knocked me down with the end of a spar
Pay me my money down.
Well if I'd been a rich mans son,
Pay me my money down.
I'd sit on the river and watch it run,
Pay me my money down.
(Key Change to )
Well, wish I was Mr. Gates,
pay me my money down.
Haul my money in egg crates.
Pay me my money down.
(Chorus in )
(Key Returns to )
Well, 40 nights,nights at sea,
pay me my money down.
Captian worked every last dollar out of me.
Pay me my money down.