Well, Jack was a sailor as he walked up to town And she was a damsel, she skipped up and down
She says to Jack as she passed him by Would you care for to purchase some old bongo rye, ruddy rye
Fal-di-di-di-di, ruddy rye, ruddy rye
Says Jack to himself, well what can this be But the finest of whiskies from far Germany
Snuggled up in a basket and sold on the sly And the name it'll go by is queer bongo rye, ruddy rye
Fal-di-di-di-di, ruddy rye, ruddy rye
Jack gave her a pound, for he thought nothing strange Hold the basket, young man, while I run for your change
Jack peeked in the basket, and a child he did spy How he damned did he cry, this is queer bongo rye, ruddy rye
Fal-di-di-di-di, ruddy rye, ruddy rye
Well, to get the child christened was Jack's next intent To get the child christened to the parson he went
Says the parson to Jack, what will he go by How he damned did he cry, call it queer bongo rye
Fal-di-di-di-di, ruddy rye, ruddy rye
Says the parson to Jack, that's a mighty queer name How he damned did he cry, and it's a queer way he came
Snuggled up in a basket and sold on the sly And the name it'll go by is queer bongo rye, ruddy rye
Fal-di-di-di-di, ruddy rye, ruddy rye
So come all you young sailors who walk up to town Beware of them damsels that skip up and down
Take a peek in their baskets as ye pass them by Or else they may pawn on you queer bongo rye, ruddy rye
Fal-di-di-di-di, ruddy rye, ruddy rye