| As late I went a-walking, a-walking by the sea, I thought I heard men talking, I heard them call to me, Oh; sorrow take the city streets, the weary city stones, 'Tis time for you to leave them while the strength is in your bones. |
| Shake her and wake her Johnny, there's the ship for you, Lying in the Royal Roads waiting for a crew, And every brace and backstay is singing soft and low, Mother Carey wants us and we're all bound to go. |
| Chorus: For we're all bound to go, Johnny, all bound to go, If it's late or early, lads, if you will or no, Sure as sun do rise, Johnny, sure as tides do flow, When Mother Carey wants us then we're all bound to go. |
|
As late I went a-walking, a-walking by the shore, I thought of ports I'd like to see I hadn't seen before, Across the strait the lighthouse kept winking fine and free, To show me where the road is that leads to open sea, |
| Shake her and wake her, Johnny, yonder there she rides, Lying in the Royal Roads swinging at the tides, Singing to the muttering tides that past her cables flow, Mother Carey wants us and we're all bound to go. |
|
Chorus |
| As late I went a-walking, a-walking' by the tide, I thought m' love was with me and walking by m' side, So kind she did reproach me, so soft her eyes did shine, Yet could not hold beside her this restless heart of mine. |
| Shake her and wake her, Johnny, can't you hear them
calling, Out across the Royal Roads and the dusk a-falling, Time and time for me to leave you, though I love you so, Mother Carey wants us and we're all bound to go. |
| Chorus |