Our ship went out sailing over the bar
A-weigh for Rio
And we pointed our bow to the old southern star
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

And a-weigh boys a-weigh
A-weigh for Rio
So fare thee well all you pretty young girls
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

O say was you ever down Rio Grande?
A-weigh for Rio
It's there that the water runs down golden sand
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

And a-weigh boys a-weigh
A-weigh for Rio
So fare thee well all you pretty young girls
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

There was some of us sick, some of us sore
A-weigh for Rio
We scuffed all our lime juice and can't get no more
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

And a-weigh boys a-weigh
A-weigh for Rio
So fare thee well all you pretty young girls
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

So pack up your donkeys and get underway
A-weigh for Rio
The girls we are leaving will get a half pay
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

And a-weigh boys a-weigh
A-weigh for Rio
So fare thee well all you pretty young girls
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

Well it's goodbye to Molly and goodbye to Sue (Hey!)
A-weigh for Rio
You folks on the quayside it's goodbye to you
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

And a-weigh boys a-weigh
A-weigh for Rio
So fare thee well all you pretty young girls
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

Sing only one pull whilst heaving me sons
A-weigh for Rio
Sing only one chorus it's blowing big guns
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

And a-weigh boys a-weigh
A-weigh for Rio
So fare thee well all you pretty young girls
And we're bound for the Rio Grande

 

So fare thee well all you pretty young girls
And we're bound for the Rio Grande
And we're bound for the Rio Grande