Everyone has a secret longing And when I grew to a man How I wanted to be a tenor And sing as tenors can Love songs sweet Full of sympathy I would sing them all the while But no such songs are left for me I must sing the big bass viol! For my voice became a bass For such songs are out of place Songs of the sea, and of drink, are left for me Of love, not the slightest taste But a tenor I would be Full of sweetest sympathy But down went my voice, in the deepest of tones Love can't be heard in a chorus of groans Now when I sing, I must praise davy jones Wrought in the cradle of the deep That sort of song I must sing Drinking, drinking, drinking Such songs do not mean a thing But if my voice was a tenor I'd sing way up to high c Love songs grand, I could then command Oh, how happy I'd be But down went my voice, in the deepest of tones Love can't be heard in a chorus of groans Now when I sing, I must praise davy jones For a basso profundo A basso profundo A basso profundo Am I