Drunken Sailor – English Lyrics

• By: The Irish Rovers

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and "Drunken Sailor" offers a fun and accessible entry point into the world of traditional English sea shanties. The song's repetitive structure and clear, simple lyrics make it easy to follow along and pick up new vocabulary related to life at sea. What makes this song special is its authentic glimpse into maritime history and culture, all wrapped up in a tune that's impossible not to sing along to. You'll learn not just words, but a piece of storytelling tradition.

[English]

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Early in the mornin'

What will we do with a drunken sailor?

What will we do with a drunken sailor?

What will we do with a drunken sailor?

Early in the mornin'

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Early in the mornin'

Shave his belly with a rusty razor

Shave his belly with a rusty razor

Shave his belly with a rusty razor

Early in the mornin'

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Early in the mornin'

We'll put him in a long boat 'til he's sober

Put him in a long boat 'til he's sober

Put him in a long boat 'til he's sober

Early in the mornin'

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Early in the mornin'

Stick him in the scupper with a hosepipe on him

Stick him in the scupper with a hosepipe on him

Stick him in the scupper with a hosepipe on him

Early in the mornin'

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Early in the mornin'

Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter

Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter

Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter

Early in the mornin'

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Early in the mornin'

That's what we do with a drunken sailor

That's what we do with a drunken sailor

That's what we do with a drunken sailor

Early in the mornin'

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Early in the mornin'

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Way hay and up she rises

Early in the mornin'

Good night, safe home (thank you)

Thank you

Good night and good luck, thank you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sailor /ˈseɪlər/ B1	noun - a person who works or navigates ships at sea
drunken /ˈdrʌŋkən/ B1	adjective - affected by alcohol to the point of impairment
rise /raɪz/ A2	verb - to move upward or to higher position
rise /raɪz/ A2	noun - an upward movement or increase
early /ˈɜːrli/ A2	adjective - happening or done before the expected time
mornin’ /ˈmɔːrnɪn/ A1	noun - short for morning
shave /ʃeɪv/ A2	verb - to cut hair from the face or body with a razor noun - the act of removing hair with a razor
rusty /ˈrʌsti/ B2	adjective - covered with rust, corroded
long /lɒŋ, lɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - measuring a great distance from end to end
sober /ˈsoʊbər/ B2	adjective - not intoxicated by alcohol
scupper /ˈskʌpər/ C1	noun - a ship's drain or opening to the sea verb - to deliberately damage or sink a ship
captain /ˈkæptɪn/ B2	noun - the leader of a ship, crew, or sports team
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness from sunset to sunrise
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where a person or animal lives

Key Grammar Structures

• Way hay and up she rises

  ➔ Imperative/Exclamatory sentence with unusual word order (Emphasis)

  ➔ The typical word order would be "She rises up". Inverting the order adds a sense of urgency and emphasis, commonly found in sea shanties. This form uses 'up she rises' for a more forceful exclamation.

• What will we do with a drunken sailor?

  ➔ Future simple tense (will) in an interrogative sentence

  ➔ This line uses "will" to inquire about a future action or plan regarding the drunken sailor. It expresses uncertainty and a need for a solution. "What "will" we do...?" questions a future course of action.

• Shave his belly with a rusty razor

  ➔ Imperative sentence (command/suggestion). Use of the preposition "with" to indicate the instrument.

  ➔ This line is a suggestion, presented as a command. "Shave" is the verb in the imperative mood. The preposition "with" clarifies what tool to use for shaving.

• Put him in a long boat 'til he's sober

  ➔ Imperative sentence. Use of the shortened form "'til" for "until".

  ➔ Another imperative, suggesting an action. "'Til" is a contraction of "until", indicating a duration or time limit. "Put" is the command, and "'til he's sober" expresses the reason/duration of the action.

• Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter

  ➔ Imperative sentence. Possessive case ('s) used to denote ownership or association.

  ➔ "Put" is the imperative verb. The phrase "captain's daughter" uses the possessive 's to show the relationship between the captain and the daughter.