You seamen bold who plough the ocean

See dangers landsmen never know

'Tis not for honour or promotion

No tongue can tell what they undergo

In the blusterous wind

And the great dark water

Our ship went drifting on the sea

Her rigging gone and her rudder broken

Which brought us to extremity

For fourteen days heartsore and hungry

Seeing but wild water and bitter sky

Poor fellows all stood in a totter

A-casting lots as to who should die

Their lot it fell on Robert Jackson

Whose family was so great

I'm free to die but oh me comrades

Let me keep look-out till the break of day

A full dressed ship like the sun a-glittering

Came bearing down to their relief

As soon as this glad news was shouted

It banished all their care and grief

Our ship brought to no longer drifting

Safe in Saint Vincent

Cap Verde she lay

You seamen all who hear my story

Pray you'll ne'er suffer the like again