Dm

   Dm                               C                   Dm
No future was there in London for a poor man’s son like me
                                      G              A
So I left my home and went to seek my fortune on the sea
  Dm                                  C            Dm
I signed aboard a merchant ship bound for the West Indies
                                     G        F   Dm
And six weeks out we tacked into the winds of pyracy

           Dm                           C               Dm
There were sails on the horizon, and we tried to make a run
                                          G              A
And when we saw that black flag, then our runnin’ it was done
    Dm                                  C              Dm
And when those pyrates boarded us, they told us one by one
                                             G                 F      Dm
“You can die or join our crew, me boys, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum!”


[Chorus]
     Dm                                          C                        Dm
Time flyes when you’re havin’ rum, me boys, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum
                                                     G               A
When you’re sailin’ under the black flag, and you’re firin’ all your guns
     Dm                                    C                     Dm
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
                                        G                 F      Dm
The voyage’ll be over soon enough, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum

       Dm                             C                  Dm
With a pistol to my forehead, then my choice was all too clear
                                       G        A
I took leave of that merchant ship and became a buccaneer
    Dm                                       C               Dm
And though they spared my life, I think that if the truth be told
                                 G          F        Dm
I joined them for the promise of adventure, rum, and gold

    Dm                        C             Dm
The quartermaster handed me a cutlass and a gun
                                    G                 A
And as I signed their articles, the captain told me, “Son,
   Dm                             C              Dm
Us gentlemen o’ fortune live life fast ’n’ on the run
                                            G                 F      Dm
So step right up and takes your share, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum!”


[Chorus]
     Dm                                          C                        Dm
Time flyes when you’re havin’ rum, me boys, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum
                                                     G               A
When you’re sailin’ under the black flag, and you’re firin’ all your guns
     Dm                                    C                     Dm
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
                                        G                 F      Dm
The voyage’ll be over soon enough, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum

    Dm                                C                  Dm
For two long years I sailed with them around the Spanish Main
                                          G                    A
And we captured ships from Portugal, from England, France, and Spain
    Dm                                               C                   Dm
And we took what we could and we gave none back, for that’s the pyrates’ code
                                      G           F   Dm
And the wake we left in the Caribbean Sea ran red with blood

        Dm                         C                Dm
Now the admiralty in London sent a fleet to hunt us down
                                       G                 A
And a traitor in Port Royale told them where we could be found
     Dm                                   C                 Dm
They surrounded us in Nassau, the captain shouted, “Let ’em come!
                                        G                 F      Dm
The fight’ll be over soon enough, times flyes when you’re havin’ rum!”


[Chorus]
     Dm                                          C                        Dm
Time flyes when you’re havin’ rum, me boys, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum
                                                     G               A
When you’re sailin’ under the black flag, and you’re firin’ all your guns
     Dm                                    C                     Dm
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
                                        G                 F      Dm
The voyage’ll be over soon enough, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum

   Dm                              C               Dm
We ran the red flag up and then we readied all our guns
                                 G               A
No quarter would we give, and in return expected none
   Dm                             C                 Dm
We got off one good broadside but outnumbered 10 to 1
                                         G        F   Dm
They took out half our crew and then our pyrating was done

      Dm                         C             Dm
They took us back to London town under key and lock
                                            G         A
And the hangman’s noose was swingin’ at the Execution Dock
    Dm                                 C                 Dm
The captain turned ’n’ said to me, “We had fine sailin’, son,
                                          G                 F      Dm
The voyage it was over all too soon, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum!”


[Chorus]
     Dm                                          C                        Dm
Time flyes when you’re havin’ rum, me boys, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum
                                                     G               A
When you’re sailin’ under the black flag, and you’re firin’ all your guns
     Dm                                    C                     Dm
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
                                        G                 F      Dm
The voyage’ll be over soon enough, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum

(Slower)
            Dm                              C             Dm
Now as you listen to this tale, by now, I’m sure you have surmised
                                       G                   A
That I slipped the hangman’s cable and escaped him with my life
    Dm                           C             Dm
But how I got away, well that’s another story, son

(Faster)
                                      G                 F      Dm
My voyages they aren’t over yet, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum!

[Chorus]
(x2)
     Dm                                          C                        Dm
Time flyes when you’re havin’ rum, me boys, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum
                                                     G               A
When you’re sailin’ under the black flag, and you’re firin’ all your guns
     Dm                                    C                     Dm
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
                                        G                 F      Dm
The voyage’ll be over soon enough, time flyes when you’re havin’ rum