O say, were you ever in Rio Grande? O Rio! It's there that the river runs down golden strand; And we're bound for the Rio Grande. Then away love, away, Way down Rio, O fare you well my pretty young girl, For we're bound for the Rio Grande. The anchor is weighed and the sails they are set, O Rio! The maids we are leaving we'll never forget, And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . So it's pack up your donkey and get under way, O Rio! The girls we are leaving can take our half pay. And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . We've a jolly good ship and a jolly good crew, O Rio! A jolly good mate and a good skipper, too. And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . Say goodbye to Polly and goodbye to Sue, O Rio! And you who are listening, it's goodbye to you, And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . Goodbye and farewell to you ladies of town, O Rio! We've left you enough for to buy a silk gown, And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . Now fill up your glasses and sing fare you well, O Rio! To all the young lasses who love you so well, And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . Now you Bowery ladies we'd have you to know O Rio! We're bound to the south'ard, O Lord, let us go! And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . Heave with a will and heave long and strong, O Rio! Sing the good chorus, for 'tis a good song. And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . Heave only one pawl, then 'vast heavin', belay! O Rio! Heave steady, because we say farewell today. And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . We'll sell our salt cod for molasses and rum O Rio! And get home again 'fore Thanksgiving has come And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . The chain's up and down, now the bosun did say, O Rio! Heave up to the hawsepipe, the anchor's aweigh. And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . . Our good ship's a-going out over the bar O Rio! And we'll point her nose for the South-er-on Star And we're bound for the Rio Grande. . . . .