We come on the sloop John be,
My grandfather and me
Around Nassau town we did roam
Drinkin' all night
Got into a fight (got into a fight)
Well, I feel so break up
I want to go home (I want to go home, so now)

Hoist up the John be's sails
See how the main sails set
Call for the captain ashore
Let me go home (Let me go home)

Let me go home (I want to go home)
I want to go home (Why don't you let me go home?)
Well, I feel so break up
I want to go home (I want to go home)

First mate, he got drunk
Broke up the people's trunk
Constable had to come and take him away

Sheriff John Stone (Sheriff John Stone)
Why don't you leave me alone? (Why don't you leave me alone?)
Well, I feel so break up
I want to go home (I want to go home, so, now)

Hoist up the John be's sails
See how the main sails set
Call for the captain ashore
Let me go home (Let me go home)

Let me go home (I want to go home)
I want to go home (Why don't you let me go home?)
Well, I feel so break up
I want to go home (I want to go home)

Well, the poor cook he caught the fits
Throw away all of my grits.
Then he took and he ate up all of my corn
Let me go home (I want to go home)

I want to go home (Why don't you let me go home?)
This is the worst trip
Since I've been born (Since I have been born, so, now)

Hoist up the John be's sails
See how the main sails set
Call for the captain ashore
Let me go home (Let me go home)
Let me go home (I want to go home)
I want to go home (Why don't you let me go home?)
Well, I feel so break up
I want to go home (I want to go home, so, now)

Hoist up the John be's sails (John be's sails)
See how the main sails set (main sails set)
Call for the captain ashore
Let me go home (Let me go home)
Let me go home (I want to go home)
I want to go home (Why don't you let me go home?)
Well, I feel so break up
I want to go home (I want to go home)

Copyright: T.R.O. INC.
Writer(s): CARL SANDBURG, LEE HAYS