Take your swashbuckling crew on the road and sing some pirate songs in the car! While you’re at it, be sure to read all my tips for Traveling Like Pirates!
Click here for a printable page!
Pirate Ship (an old Camp Song)
also called “When I was One”
Listen to it on Youtube to get the tune.
When I was One I sucked my thumb, the day I went to sea.
I climbed aboard a pirate ship, and the captain said to me
We’re going:
This way, that way
Forward, backward,
Over the Irish sea.
A bottle of Sprite took care of my fright, and that’s the life for me!
When I was 2, I tied my shoe…
3- Skinned my knee
4- Shut the door
5- Did a jive
6- Picked up sticks
7- Went to Heaven
8- Had a date
9- Broke my spine
10- I said The End!
A Pirate’s Life for Me (Yo Ho)
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot.
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we’re really a fright.
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
We’re rascals and scoundrels, we’re villians and knaves.
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
We’re devils and black sheep, we’re really bad eggs.
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
We’re beggars and blighters and ne’er do-well cads,
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
Aye, but we’re loved by our mommies and dads,
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me.
Listen to “A Pirate’s Life for Me” to get the hang of the tune
What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor
There are many different versions of these lyrics. Feel free to make up some of your own! Note that “early” is generally pronounced as “earl-eye.” We like to sing this one while sipping root beer!
This song is easy to do as a leader/follow song. The song leader sings the first line and then everyone repeats it 3 times followed by “earl-eye in the morning!”, so only the song leader needs a copy of the words. Repeat the intro a few times periodically. Listen on youtube to get the tune. To be fair, this song has a little violence in it (and discusses drunkenness!), so it’s probably for older kids, but pirates can get pretty out of hand most of the time, and let’s be honest, fighting is kind of a way of life for them!
Intro
What shall we do with a drunken sailor, (3×)
Early in the morning?
Chorus
Hey Ho (or Hoo–ray/Wey–hey/Heave-ho) and up she rises, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Verses
Stick him in a bag and beat him senseless, (3×)
Early in the morning! (chorus)
Put him in the longboat till he’s sober, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Put him in the brig until he’s sober, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Slap him around and call him Suzie, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Put him in bed with the captain’s daughter, (3×)
Early in the morning!
You haven’t seen the captain’s daughter, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Keelhaul the man until he’s sober, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Put ‘im in the crow’s nest and watch him fall down, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Put ‘im in a leaky boat an’ make ‘im bail ‘er, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Put him in the bilge and make him drink it, (3x)
Early in the morning!
Pull out the plug and wet him all over, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Give ‘im the hair of the dog that bit him, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Put ‘im in the back of the paddywagon, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Take ‘im and shake ‘im and try an’ wake ‘im, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Soak ‘im in oil till he sprouts a flipper, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Put ‘im in charge of an Exxon tanker, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Shave his belly with a rusty razor, (3×)
Early in the morning!
Outro
That’s what we’ll do with a drunken sailor, (3×)
Early in the morning! (Amen)
Take your pirate lyrics on the road and have a jolly-“roger” good time in the car! Yo -ho! Read more about Traveling Like Pirates.
