It's a damn tough life full of toil and strife
We whalermen undergo
And we don't give a damn when the gale is done
How hard the wind did blow
Oh, we're homeward bound! 'Tis a damn fine sound
On a good ship taut and free
And we don't give a damn when we drink our rum
With the girls on Old Maui
Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys
Rolling down to Old Maui
We're homeward bound from the arctic ground
Rolling down to Old Maui
Once more we sail with a nor'ly gale
Through the ice, and sleet, and rain
And them coconut fronds in them tropic lands
We soon shall see again
Six hellish months we've passed away
In the cold Kamchatka sea
And now we're bound from the arctic ground
Rolling down to Old Maui
Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys
Rolling down to Old Maui
We're homeward bound from the arctic ground
Rolling down to Old Maui
We'll heave the lead where old Diamondhead
Looms up on old Wahoo
Our mast and yards are sheathed with ice
And our decks are hid from view
The horrid tiles of the sea-cut ice
That deck the Arctic Sea
Are miles behind in the frozen wind
Since we steered for Old Maui
Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys
Rolling down to Old Maui
We're homeward bound from the arctic ground
Rolling down to Old Maui
How soft the breeze of the tropic seas
Now the ice is far astern
And them native maids in them island glades
Are awaiting our return
Even now their big brown eyes look out
Hoping some fine day to see
Our blowing sails running 'fore the gales
Rolling down to Old Maui
Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys
Rolling down to Old Maui
We're homeward bound from the arctic ground
Rolling down to Old Maui
And now we sail with a favoring gale
Towards our island home
Our mainmast sprung, our whaling done
And we ain't got far to roam
Our stuns'l booms are carried away
What care we for that sound?
A living gale is after us
Thank God we're homeward bound
Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys
Rolling down to Old Maui
We're homeward bound from the arctic ground
Rolling down to Old Maui
And now we're anchored in the bay
With the Kanakas all around
With chants and soft aloha hey
They greet us homeward bound
And now ashore we'll have good fun
We'll paint them beaches red
Awaking in the arms of a wahine
With a big fat aching head
Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys
Rolling down to Old Maui
We're homeward bound from the arctic ground
Rolling down to Old Maui
Rolling down to Old Maui, me boys
Rolling down to Old Maui
We're homeward bound from the arctic ground
Rolling down to Old Maui