He went to sea as a cabin-boy

Before he was one year old.

Chorus. Now this is pretty bad,

But it’s nothin’ to what’s a-coming:

Yet Charley he was a truthful lad,

And never indulged in humming.

And this Charley Buff allays said to me:

“To lie I cannot afford,

For you know I hev got more truth in me

Than all of the rest on board.