The boat rides South of Ailsa Craig
in the waning of the light
There's thirty men in Lendalfit
to make our burdens light
And there's thirty horse at Hazelholm
with the halters on their heads
All set this night upon yon height
if wind and water speed
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine
And the darkest night is the smuggler's time
Away we ran from the excise man
It's a smuggler's life for me
it's a smuggler's life for me
Oh lass ye hae a cosy bed
and cattle ye have ten
Can ye no live a lawful life
and live wi' lawful men
But must I live with hamely goods
when there' s foreign gear sae fine
Must I drink at the waterside
and France sae full of wine
And when at last the sun comes up
and the cargo's safely stored
Like sinless saints to church
we'll go God's mercy to afford
And there's champagne fine for
communion wine the parson drinks it too
With a sly wink prays 'Forgive these men
for they know not what they do