As I walked down through Chatham Street
a fair maid I did meet,
She asked me to see her home—
she lived in Bleecker Street.
And away you santy, my dear honey,
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
And when we got to Bleecker Street,
We stopped at forty-four,
Her mother and her sister there,
to meet her at the door.
And away you santy, my dear honey,
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
And when I got inside the house,
The drinks were pa**ed around,
The liquor was so awful strong,
My head went round and round.
And away you santy, my dear honey,
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
And then we had another drink,
before we sat to eat,
The liquor was so awful strong,
I quickly fell asleep.
Henry Crun [spoken]: Oh, come on, Min; play that modern banjo, Min.
Minnie Bannister: Ya pa pa pa pa....
When I awoke next morning
I had an aching head,
There was I, Jack all alone,
Stark naked in me bed.
And away you santy, my dear honey,
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
My gold watch and my pocketbook
And lady friend were gone;
And there was I, Jack all alone,
Stark naked in the room.
And away you santy, my dear honey,
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
On looking round this little room,
There's nothing I could see,
But a woman's shift and apron
That were no use to me.
And away you santy, my dear honey,
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
With a flour barrel for a suit of clothes,
Down Cherry Street forlorn,
There Martin Churchill took me in,
And sent me 'round Cape Horn.
And away you santy, my dear honey,
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
Major Denis Bloodnok [spoken]: I say, are you a matelote? Careful what you say, sir—we're on board ship here.