VERSE 1

Oh, poor old Reuben Ranzo,
Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,
Oh, poor old Reuben Ranzo
Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 2

Oh, Ranzo was no sailor,
Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

He was a New York tailor,

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 3

He was New York tailor

Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

Shanghaied aboard a whaler

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 4

They gave him lashes thirty

Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

Because he was so dirty,

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 5

They gave him lashes twenty

Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

That's twenty more than plenty

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 6

Ranzo nearly fainted

Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

When his back with oil was painted

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 7

The captain gave him thirty,
Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

But his daughter begged for mercy

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 8

She took him to her cabin,
Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

To try and ease his achin’.

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 9

She gave him bread and water,
Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

And a bit more than she oughta.

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 10

She gave him education,
Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

And she taught him navigation,

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 11

She made him the best sailor,
Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

Aboard that Yankee whaler.

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 12

He's known wherever the whale-fish blow

Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

As the toughtest bastard on the go

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.

VERSE 13

Hurrah for Reuben Ranzo

Ranzo, me boys, Ranzo,

Hurrah for Captain Ranzo

Ranzo, boys, Ranzo.