Chorus:
And the ocean waves do roll
And the stormy winds do blow
And we poor sa-li-ors go skippin' at the top
While the landlubbers lie down below! 

[Dean]
Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship
And a fine old man was he!
"This fishy mermaid has warned us of our doom;
We shall sink to the bottom of the sea!"   (Chorus)

[Maggie]
Up spoke the gunner of our gallant ship, 
And a sharp-shooting arm had she. 
Said, "I may go down with this ship beneath the waves...
But I'm taking me cannons with me!"  (Chorus)

[Jon]
Then up spoke a laddie from our gallant ship
And he saw the mermaid smiling happily . . .
He said "I've never kissed a girl; I'll give that one a whirl!"
And he leapt to the bottom of the sea.  (Chorus)

[Christie]
I've been stuck on this ship for months and months and months
and I'm sea sick, sea sick as can be
They kept sayin' I'll get my sea legs soon
but 'til then I'll be heavin' in the sea  (Chorus)

[David]
Then up spoke the drunkard of our gallant ship
And an old besotted wretch was he!
He said "I once caught a mermaid THIS BIG . . ."
                                                                (Chorus)

[Gina]
I stowed 'way on this big ol' ship,
Looking for adventure on the sea.
So far all I've found are rats and mice and fleas,
And now they're the last thing that I'll see!  (Chorus)

[All]
Three times round spun our gallant ship,
And three times round spun she;
Three times round spun our gallant ship,
And she sank to the bottom of the sea!  (Chorus)

The author of this tune, Francis J. Child, is responsible for a great many songs thought "traditional" on the folk, maritime and renaissance faire circuits.  For detailed information on him and his works, see this web site.