Oh, well set-up and handsome as a sailorman could be,
Was Captain John Macpherson of the schooner Ben Machree!
A shy and modest bachelor of just two score and ten –
The idol of the ladies, and the envy of the men!

	Oh, East and West, North and South, ‘Frisco to Perim
	Didn’t matter where he went, the gals were after him!
	They chased him – pursued him – they would not let him be,
	Till Captain John Macpherson cursed the day he went to sea!

He died his beard a fiery red, ‘twas not the slightest good!
To make himself a skeleton, he took some patent food;
He wore a pair of spectacles and looked morose and queer,
But the gals still flocked around him, and said he was a dear!

	Oh, East and West, North and South, ‘Frisco to Perim
	Didn’t matter where he went, the gals were after him!
	They chased him – pursued him – they would not let him be,
	Till Captain John Macpherson cursed the day he went to sea!

At last he grew so weary that he said unto his mate
“Unless this adoration stops, I’ll go clean off my pate;
Why can’t the gals leave me alone?” Said the mate “I’ll save you,sir!
You take a wife, that’s my advice, and leave the gals to her!”

	Oh, East and West, North and South, ‘Frisco to Perim
	Didn’t matter where he went, the gals were after him!
	They chased him – pursued him – they would not let him be,
	But they did when Madame Captain John was mistress of the sea!