It’s a damn tough life full of toil and strife we whalermen undergo
And we don’t give a damn when the gale is done how hard the winds did blow
‘Cause we’re homeward bound from the Arctic ground with a good ship taut and free
And we won’t give a damn when we drink our rum with the girls of Old Maui
Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys, rolling down to Old Maui
We’re homeward bound from the Arctic ground, rolling down to Old Maui
Once more we sail with the northerly gale through the ice and wind and rain
Them coconut fronds, them tropical lands we soon shall see again
Six hellish months we’ve passed away on the cold Kamchatka Sea
But now, we’re bound from the Arctic Ground, rolling…
Once more we sail the northerly gale towards our island home
Our main mast sprung, our whaling done and we ain’t got far to roam
Our stun’s’l boom is carried away, what care we for that sound
A living gale is after us, thank God we’re homeward bound
How soft the breeze thru the island trees, now the ice is far astern
Them native maidds, them tropical glades is awaiting our return
Even now their big brown eyes look out hoping some fine day to see
Our baggy sails, running ‘fore the gales, rolling down to Old Maui
Sea chanty from The Adventuress SongBook. Jason left it with me on his last visit.