1 When first I came to Frisco, boys, I went upon a spree.
I spent up all my money and got drunk as drunk could be.
But when my money was all gone, oh, then I wanted more.
When a man is blind he makes up his mind to go to sea once more.

Chorus

Once more, once more, once more, once more, once more!
Oh, there goes Ben Breezer, poor sailor boy, must plough the sea once more!

2 Oh, when the shades of night came down, I went to take a bed,
But in the morning when I awoke my watch and chain was fled.
As I was passing through the street the lasses all did roar,
Saying, " There goes Ben Breezer, poor sailor boy, must plough the sea once more! "

3 I shipped on board of a whale ship, boys, bound to the Arctic sea,
Where the cold wind blows, and frosts and snows, and Jamaica rum goes free.
And worst of all, I had no clothes I spent all my money on shore.
Oh, it's then I wished that I was dead, or back once more on shore!
4 Some days we're catching whalefish, boys, and more days we're getting none,
With a twenty-foot oar placed in our hand from four o'clock in the morn.
But when the shade of night comes down we nod on our weary oar.
Oh, it's then I wished that I was dead or back with the girls on shore!

5 Come all you jolly fishermen, a warning take by me!
When you come off of a very long trip, oh, don't go on no spree.
Drink no bad rum, smoke no cigars, but lay up your money in store,
And get married, my boys, and have all night in, and go to sea no more!
Frank Vickery, mate of the schooner Avon Queen , who sang the first version of " Off to Sea Once More, " used the same tune for the British song,