I left Cape Breton on the coal boat for St John's, Newfoundland
And I met a little girl named Sally
And I took her by the little white hand
She shook her little head and said "No way Fred"
I won't go along with your plan
You been working on the coal boat b'y
And you're nutin' but a dirty old man
You been working on the coal boat b'y
And you're nutin' but a dirty old man

Spoken:
Well I had to think of somethin' real fast ya know

Yeah well I'm gonna quit the dirty coal boat
I wanna live in Newfoundland
I'll buy a suit and get married
Put a ring upon your little white hand

She nodded her head and said "Okay Fred"
Sally went along with the plan
But I'm still working on the coal boat b'y
And I'm nutin' but a dirty old man
I'm still working on the coal boat b'y
And I'm nutin' but a dirty old man

It was sometime later on the coal boat
I got a little letter from home
Sally said Freddy was a good boy
But the little beggar wanted to roam
She said it's too bad ya got him for a dad
And I hope that ya feel real grand
He's gone working on the coal boat b'y
To be just like his dirty old man
He's gone workin on the coal boat b'y
To be just like his dirty old man

Well I left Cape Breton on the coal boat for St John's, Newfoundland
And good old Sally was a waitin' and I took he by the little white hand
She shook her little head and said no way Fred
I won't go along wit your plan
You ain't gonna quit the coal boat b'y
Cause I loves ya, you dirty old man
You ain't gonna quit the coal boat b'y
Cause I loves ya, you dirty old man

So come on all young fellers on the coal boat
I hope your gonna understand
If you got a perty little girlfriend
And ya take her by the little white hand
If she turns her back and says "No way Jack"
I won't go along wit your plan
Just keep workin' on the coal boat b'y
If ya wants to be a dirty old man
Just keep on working on the coal boat b'y
And you'll be nutin' but a dirty old man