The boat rides south of Ailsa Craig in the waning of the light
There's thirty men in Lendalfit to make our burden light
And there's thirty horse in Hazleholm with the halters on their heads
All set this night upon your life if wind and water speed
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time
Away we ran from the excise man
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
Oh lass you have a cozy bed, and cattle you have ten
Can you not live a lawful life and live with lawful men?
But must I use old homely goods while there's foreign gear so fine?
Must I drink at the waterside and France so full of wine
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time
Away we ran from the excise man
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
Though well I like to see you Kate, with a baby on your knee
My heart is now with gallant crew that plough through the angry sea
The bitter gale, the tightest sail, and the sheltered bay or goal
It's the wayward life, it's the smugglers strife, it's the joy of the smugglers soul
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time
Away we ran from the excise man
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
And when at last the dawn comes up and the cargo is safely stored
Like sinless saints to church we'll go, God's mercy to afford
And it's champagne fine for communion wine and the parson drinks it too
With a sly wink prays "forgive these men, for they know not what they do"
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time
Away we ran from the excise man
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
There's thirty men in Lendalfit to make our burden light
And there's thirty horse in Hazleholm with the halters on their heads
All set this night upon your life if wind and water speed
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time
Away we ran from the excise man
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
Oh lass you have a cozy bed, and cattle you have ten
Can you not live a lawful life and live with lawful men?
But must I use old homely goods while there's foreign gear so fine?
Must I drink at the waterside and France so full of wine
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time
Away we ran from the excise man
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
Though well I like to see you Kate, with a baby on your knee
My heart is now with gallant crew that plough through the angry sea
The bitter gale, the tightest sail, and the sheltered bay or goal
It's the wayward life, it's the smugglers strife, it's the joy of the smugglers soul
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time
Away we ran from the excise man
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
And when at last the dawn comes up and the cargo is safely stored
Like sinless saints to church we'll go, God's mercy to afford
And it's champagne fine for communion wine and the parson drinks it too
With a sly wink prays "forgive these men, for they know not what they do"
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine and the darkest night is the smugglers time
Away we ran from the excise man
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me
It's a smugglers life for me