Blow the Man Down Printable Lyrics – PDF

“Blow the Man Down” is a very popular old sea shanty dating back to the 19th century. The song was first published in Laura Alexandrine Smith’s collection of shanties, The Music of the Waters (1888).

It is believed the lyrics relate to a common mishap at sea wherein a strong, sudden gale catches a ship with its topsails fully set putting the men – and ship – in jeopardy. A different interpretation is that “blow” refers to knocking a man down with a punch during a fight; the crews of that time were famous for their fighting mates and the brutal treatment of seamen.

Like most shanties of this type, “Blow the Man Down” was sung to a flexible combination of customary verses that were improvised at that moment. As a result, there are countless versions of the song and many recordings by singers like Burl Ives, Pete Seeger and others. The sea shanty has featured in an episode of the American sitcom ‘The Big Bang Theory’, and it inspired the theme tune to the popular kids show SpongeBob SquarePants.

On this page you can find lyrics in two versions, a printable lyrics PDF file for free download and two sing-along videos of the song which we find most suitable for kids.

Contents

Printable Lyrics PDF

Click on the button to download a PDF file with lyrics to this song for free.

Lyrics (version 1)

Come all you young fellers that follow the sea.
Yo ho blow the man down.
Now just pay attention and listen to me.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

Oh blow the man down, pirates, blow the man down.
Yo ho blow the man down.
Blow the man down, pirates, blow him right down.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

Aboard the Black Clipper I first served my time.
Yo ho blow the man down.
But on the Black Clipper I wasted my time.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

Oh blow the man down, pirates, blow the man down.
Yo ho blow the man down.
Blow the man down, pirates, blow him right down.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

We tinkers and tailors and sailors and all,
Yo ho blow the man down.
That sailed for good seaman aboard the Black Ball.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

Oh blow the man down, pirates, blow the man down.
Yo ho blow the man down.
Blow the man down, pirates, blow him right down.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

Lyrics (Mickey Mouse & the Gooey Fish version)

Come all ye young children and listen to me
Yo-ho, blow the man down!
I hope that you′ll all come a-sailin’ with me
Yo-ho, and blow the man down!

One day, I was strollin′ down on Main Street
Yo-ho, blow the man down!
A sea-farin’ Captain I happened to meet
Yo-ho, and blow the man down!
Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho, and blow the man down!

He said, “Side up young fella! And follow the sea”
Yo-ho, blow the man down!
A handy young sailor I thought I would be
Yo-ho, and blow the man down!

Yo-ho, yo-ho, and blow the man down!

The waves all a-tossin’ upon the high seas
Yo-ho, blow the man down!
And every landlubber gets weak in the knees
Yo-ho, and blow the man down!
So shiver me timbers, we′re headin′ for home
Yo-ho, blow the man down!
Sing now with me and you won’t sing alone
With a yo-ho, and blow the man down!

Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho, and blow the man down!
Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho, and blow the man down!
Yahoo!