| No future was there in London Town for a poor man’s son like me,
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| So I left my home and I went to seek my fortune on the sea,
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| I signed aboard a merchant ship out for the west indies,
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| and soon we would be trapped into the winds of piracy.
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| We spied sails on the horizon and we tried to make a run,
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| The pirates raised a black flag and our running it was done,
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| When those pirates boarded us they told us one by one,
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| «You can die or join me crew me boys,
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| Time flies when you’re having rum!»
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| Time flies when you’re having rum me boys,
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| time flies when you’re having rum,
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| when you’re sailing under the black flag
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| and you’re firing all your guns,
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| when you take a spanish treasure ship,
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| you divide by the rule of thumb,
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| Our voyage will be over soon enough,
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| time flies when you’re having rum,
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| With a pistol to my forehead,
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| well my choice was all too clear,
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| I took leave of that merchant ship and became a buccaneer,
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| and though they spared my life I think that if the truth be told,
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| i’d join them for the promises
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| of adventure, rum and gold.
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| The quartermaster handed me a compass and a gun,
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| and as I signed their articles the captain told me «Son,
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| us gentlemen make a fortune living fast and on the run,
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| so step right up and take your share,
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| time flies when you’re having rum!»
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| Time flies when you’re having rum me boys,
|
| time flies when you’re having rum,
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| when you’re sailing under the black flag
|
| and you’re firing all your guns,
|
| when you take a spanish treasure ship,
|
| you divide by the rule of thumb,
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| Our voyage will be over soon enough,
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| time flies when you’re having rum.
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| For two long years I sailed with them,
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| across the Spanish Main,
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| We capture ships from Portugal,
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| from England, France and Spain,
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| we took what we could and we give 'em back,
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| for that’s the pirate’s code,
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| and in our wake the Caribbean Sea ran red with blood.
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| The admiralty in London sent a fleet to hunt us down,
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| a traitor in Port Royal told them where we could be found,
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| they surrounded us and that’s when the captain shouted,
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| «Let 'em come! |
| The fight will be over soon enough,
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| time flies when you’re having rum.»
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| Time flies when you’re having rum me boys,
|
| time flies when you’re having rum,
|
| when you’re sailing under the black flag
|
| and you’re firing all your guns,
|
| when you take a spanish treasure ship,
|
| you divide by the rule of thumb,
|
| Our voyage will be over soon enough,
|
| time flies when you’re having rum.
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| We ran the red flag up and then we readied all our guns,
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| no quarter would be given and we turned an' speced an' done,
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| we got off when good broadside,
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| but outnumbered ten to one,
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| they took out half our crew,
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| and our piracy was done.
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| They took us back to London Town,
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| under key and lock.
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| The hangman’s noose was swinging from the execution dock.
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| The captain turned and said to me, «We had fine sailing son,
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| the voyage was over all too soon,
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| time flies when you’re having rum.»
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| Time flies when you’re having rum me boys,
|
| time flies when you’re having rum,
|
| when you’re sailing under the black flag
|
| and you’re firing all your guns,
|
| when you take a spanish treasure ship,
|
| you divide by the rule of thumb,
|
| Our voyage will be over soon enough,
|
| time flies when you’re having rum.
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| Now as you’ve listened to this tale by know,
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| I’m sure you have surmised.
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| That I slipped the hangman’s cable,
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| and escaped him with my life.
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| But how I got away,
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| That’s another story son,
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| my voyaging days ain’t over yet,
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| time flies when you’re having rum!
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| Time flies when you’re having rum me boys,
|
| time flies when you’re having rum,
|
| when you’re sailing under the black flag
|
| and you’re firing all your guns,
|
| when you take a spanish treasure ship,
|
| you divide by the rule of thumb,
|
| Our voyage will be over soon enough,
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| time flies when you’re having rum. |