Lyrics

Goodbye, Fare Thee Well

Oh, we’re homeward bound for Liverpool town,
Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye fare thee well,
Those Liverpool Judies they all will come down,
Hurrah, me boys, we’re homeward bound!

We’re homeward bound for the girls of the town,
Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye fare thee well,
So stand up, me hearties, and heave her around!
Hurrah, me boys, we’re homeward bound!

We’re a fine flashey packet, we’re bound for to go,
Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye fare thee well,
With the girls on the tow-rope we cannot say “no!”
Hurrah, me boys, we’re homeward bound!

Oh, and one to the other we’ll hear them say,
Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye fare thee well,
Now here comes Johnnie with his fourteen-month’s pay!
Hurrah, me boys, we’re homeward bound!

Oh, those girls there on Lime Street we soon hope to meet
Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye fare thee well,
Soon we’ll be rollin’ both sides of the street
Hurrah, me boys, we’re homeward bound!

Oh, we’ll meet those fly girls and we’ll ring the old bell,
Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye fare thee well,
With the girls that we meet there we’ll raise bloody hell!
Hurrah, me boys, we’re homeward bound!

Oh, I’ll tell me old woman when I gets back home
Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye fare thee well,
The girls there on Lime Street won’t leave me alone!
Hurrah, me boys, we’re homeward bound!

Oh, we’re homeward bound and I’ll have yas to know
Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye fare thee well,
It’s over the water to Liverpool we’ll go!
Hurrah, me boys, we’re homeward bound!

Song Notes

From Stan Hugill’s “Shanties from the Seven Seas.”

Liverpool was a major sailing port, and was a featured location in many maritime songs and sea shanties.