Verse 1
 
 G 
Well, I thought I heard the captain say, 
             D 
"Pay me my money down. 
Tomorrow is my sailing day, 
            G 
pay me my money down." 
 
Chorus
 
Oh, pay me. Pay me. 
            D 
Pay me my money down. 
Pay me or go to jail. 
            G 
Pay me my money down. 
 
G 
Soon as that boat was clear of the bar, 
            D 
pay me my money down, 
well, he knocked me down with the end of a spar 
            G 
Pay me my money down. 
 
Chorus
 
Solo/Instrumental
 
G 
Well if I'd been a rich mans son, 
            D 
Pay me my money down. 
I'd sit on the river and watch it run, 
            G 
Pay me my money down. 
 
Chorus
 
Solo/Instrumental
 
Key Change to Bb
 
Bb 
Well, wish I was Mr. Gates, 
            F 
pay me my money down. 
Haul my money in egg crates. 
            Bb 
Pay me my money down. 
 
Chorus in Bb
 
Solo/Instrumental in Bb
 
Key Returns to G
 
G 
Well, 40 nights,nights at sea, 
            D 
pay me my money down. 
Captian worked every last dollar out of me. 
            G 
Pay me my money down. 
 
Chorus
 
Oh, pay me. Pay me. 
            D 
Pay me my money down. 
Pay me or go to jail. 
            G 
Pay me my money down. 
 
G 
Soon as that boat was clear of the bar, 
            D 
pay me my money down, 
well, he knocked me down with the end of a spar 
            G 
Pay me my money down.