| O the times was hard and the wages low | |
| Leave her Johnny, leave her | |
| But now once more ashore we'll go | |
| And it's time for us to leave her! | |
| Chorus: | |
| Leave her, Johnny, leave her Leave her, Johnny, leave her For the voyage is done And the winds don't blow And it's time for us to leave her |
|
| Oh I thought I heard the Old Man say, | |
| Leave her Johnny, leave her | |
| Tomorrow you will get your pay | |
| And it's time for us to leave her! | |
| Chorus | |
| The work was hard and the voyage was long | |
| Leave her Johnny, leave her | |
| The sea was high and the gales were strong | |
| And it's time for us to leave her! | |
| Chorus | |
| The grub was bad and the wages low | |
| Leave her Johnny, leave her | |
| But now once more ashore we'll go | |
| And it's time for us to leave her! | |
| Chorus | |
| Oh, the Old Man, he don't set no sail | |
| Leave her Johnny, leave her | |
| We'd be better off in a nice clean jail | |
| And it's time for us to leave her! | |
| Chorus | |
| She will not steer, nor wear, nor stay | |
| Leave her Johnny, leave her | |
| Her sails and gear all carried away | |
| And it's time for us to leave her! | |
| Chorus | |
| We were made to pump all night and day | |
| Leave her Johnny, leave her | |
| And we half-dead had naught to say | |
| And it's time for us to leave her! | |
| Chorus | |
| We'll make her fast and stow her gear | |
| Leave her Johnny, leave her | |
| The girls are waitin' on the pier | |
| And it's time for us to leave her! | |
| Chorus | |