I am a sailor's wife in Hartlepool I dwell
Now my husband thinks I love him
But I just can't stand his face
when he at home does stay
For the only pleasure that I have is
For the only pleasure that I have
There's no comfort at home
for me while he does stay
For the only pleasure that I have
I'll wave him off from the town wall
Then we'll roll down to the pub house
and drink the whole place dry
With all me girls around me,
we'll toast his sailin' days
For the only pleasure that I have
When he is away, me loves,
For the only pleasure that I have
There's no comfort at home
for me while he does stay
For the only pleasure that I have
I'll find himself a fancy man
and with him I will ride.
We'll roll arm in arm each night
until the morning's high.
For me instrument it is me own
For the only pleasure that I have
Oh, when he is away, me loves,
For the only pleasure that I have
There's no comfort at home
for me while he does stay
For the only pleasure that I have
For sly jobs I do fancy best,
like many a sailor's wife.
Cause if we can't enjoy ourselves,
then what good are our lives?
So here's to the girls of Hartlepool
For the only pleasure that I have
me loves, when he is away.
For the only pleasure that I have
There's no comfort at home
for me while He does stay.
For the only pleasure that I have
beloved, when He is away.
For the only pleasure that I have
There's no comfort at home
for me while He does stay
For the only pleasure that I have
me loves, when He is away
For the only pleasure that I have
There's no comfort at home
for me while He does stay
For the only pleasure that I have
Oh, the only pleasure that I have