The good ship Kangaroo lyrics

Once I was a waitin' man

That lived at home at ease

Now I am a mariner

That ploughs the angry seas

I always loved sea-faring life

I bid my love adieu

I shipped as steward and cook, me boys,

On board the 'Kangaroo'

Oh we never thought she would prove false,

Or either prove untrue

As we sailed away through the Milford bay

On board the kangaroo

Think of me oh think of me,

She mournfully did say

When you are in a foreign land

And I am far away

And take this lucky threepenny bit

It'll make you bear in mind

That lovin' trustin' faithful heart

You left in tears behind

Cheer up cheer up my own true love

Don't weep so bitterly

She sobbed she sighed she choked she cried

And could not say goodbye

I won't be gone for very long

'Tis but a month or two

When I will return again

Of course I'll visit you

Oh we never thought she would prove false,

Or either prove untrue

As we sailed away through the Milford bay

On board the kangaroo

Our ship was homeward bound

from many's the foreign shore

And many's the foreign presents

unto my love I bore

I brought tortoises from Tenerife

and toys from Timbuktoo

A china rat and a Bengal cat

and a Bombay cockatoo

Paid off I sought her dwelling on

a street above the town

Where an ancient dame upon the line

was hanging out her gown

Where is my love? She's vanished sir

about six months ago

With a smart young man that drives the van

for Chaplin Son & Co

Oh we never thought she would prove false,

Or either prove untrue

As we sailed away through the Milford bay

On board the kangaroo

(INTERLUDE)

Here's a health to dreams of married life

To soap suds and blue

Heart's true love and patent starch

And washing soda too

I'll go unto some foreign shore

No longer can I stay

On some China Hottentot

I'll throw myself away

My love she is no foolish girl

Her age it is two score

My love she is no spinster

She's been married twice before

I cannot say it was her wealth

That stole my heart away

She's a washer in a laundry

For one and nine a day

Oh we never thought she would prove false,

Or either prove untrue

As we sailed away through the Milford bay

On board the kangaroo