trad.

I served my time on the Black Ball line
  To me way-ay-ay O Ri-o
On the Black Ball line I served my time
  Hurrah for the Black Ball line!

The Black Ball ships they are good and true
And they are the ships for me and you.

For once there was a Black Ball ship
That fourteen knots an hour* could clip.

You will surely find a rich gold mine
Just take a trip on the Black Ball line.

Just take a trip to Liverpool
To Liverpool, that Yankee school.

The Yankee sailors you'll see there
With their high-top boots and short-cut hair.