The sun came up on the Spanish sea
Our homeland far behind us
Being hunted by the king's navy
It's sure he'd never find us

Pull away, me lads o' the Cardiff Rose
And hoist the Jolly Roger

We brought her into the looward wind
And made for the Caribbean
For thoughts of what it might have been
Destroys a human being

But thoughts about the Spaniards' gold
And learning to desire it
Can make a man so brash and bold
He'll soon become a pirate

Pull away, me lads o' the Cardiff Rose
And hoist the Jolly Roger

Now a gleam came into the Captain's eyes
As he spied an English clipper
She looks the perfect shape and size
Let's all aboard and strip her

We fired a shot across her bow
And eased ourselves beside her
With our keels as close as she'd allow
We swung from the deck to ride her

Pull away, me lads o' the Cardiff Rose
And hoist the Jolly Roger

Up she stumbles and starts to pitch
And signals for assistance
We tightened our hold another hitch
And ended her resistance

Now there's many a day on the Spanish sea
I served aboard that raider
But we never did nothing more beautifully
Than the way that we belayed her

Pull away, me lads o' the Cardiff Rose
And hoist the Jolly Roger

Her hold was hot as Saint Elmo's fire
Her chests were filled with treasure
We took as much as we'd require
Then took more for our pleasure

Now there's many a day on the Spanish Main
But none I hold so dear
As the happy day I first became
A scurvy buccaneer

Pull away, me lads o' the Cardiff Rose
And hoist the Jolly Roger