In Liverpool there lived a man,
Jack Ratcliffe was his name,
and in the days of the Cape Horn Trade
he played the Shanghai game.
His wife’s name was Mary Ann,
sailors knew both near an‘ far,
an‘ when they played the Shanghai game,
the used the big stone jar.
Refrain:
In the Old Virginia Lowlands, Lowlands, low,
in the Old Virginia Lowlands, low.
The pair they played the Shanghai game,
wuz known both near an‘ far,
they never missed a lucky chance
to use the five-gallon jar.
A hell-ship she wuz short o‘ hands,
o‘ full red-blooded tars.
Missus an‘ Larry would prime the beer
in their ol‘ five-gallon jar.
Refrain:
Shellbacks an‘ farmers jist the same
sailed into Larry Marr’s,
and sailed away around the Horn,
helped by the five-gallon jar.
In ‘Frisco town their names is known,
as is the Cape Horn Bar,
an‘ the dope they serve out to ol‘ Jack
from the big five-gallon jar.
Refrain:
From the Barbary Coast steer clear, me boys,
an‘ from ol‘ Larry Marr,
or else damn soon shanghaied ye’ll be
by Larry’s five-gallon jar.
Shanghaied away in a skys’l-ship
around Cape Horn so far,
Goodby to all the boys an‘ girls
an‘ Larry’s five-gallon jar.
Refrain: