When first I came to Caledonia

And I got loading at number three

And I got lodging with Donald Norman

He had a daughter could make good tea

And it was me and me brother Charlie

Two bigger shavers you ne'er did see

We're spearing eels in the month of April

And starving slaves out on Scataree

I went to Norman to buy some brochan [brogues and]

A cake of soap and a pound of tea

But Norman said that I could not have them

Till fish got plenty on Scataree

So I went over to the big harbour

I only went for to see the spray

I saw a maid from Boulardrie over

She looked to me like the queen of May

If I had pen from Pennsylvania

And I had paper so snowy white

And I had ink of rosy morning

A true love letter to you I'd write

I put my foot on the deepest ocean

As far from land as once I could be

A-sailing over the deepest water

A woman's love'd never bother me

I set my head to a cask of brandy

And it's a dandy I do declare

For when I'm drinking I'm sad and thinking

How I could gain that young lady fair

(Repeat first verse)