1. Oh, Jean François of Nantes. Ch.: Way! Way! Way! Topman of the Frisky, Oh! me boys! Ch.: Jean François!
2. He comes ashore after his voyage, He’s as proud as the king o’ Spain, Oh! me boys!
3. Loose gold has he in his purse, Twenty months’ wages lying there, Oh! me boys!
4. He also has a chain and watch, Fit to be worn by a whale, Oh! me boys!
5. Commotion at his landlady’s, Bollard an’ painter an’ bounty, Oh! me boys!
6. The maid most beautiful of all, Carries him up off to her loft, Oh! me boys!
7. And together with this gal, Sails he on a sunlit sea, Oh! me boys!
8. And emptying his big bottle, All his gold it sails away, Oh! me boys!
9. Watch and chain soon gone-o, An’ he gets a “curio,” Oh! me boys!
10. In a hospital in Nantes port, Jean he there bemoans his fate, Oh! me boys!
11. The sheets and cases of his bed, With his teeth he tears to shreds, Oh! me boys!
12. Poor Jean François of Nantes, Topman of the Frisky! Oh! me boys!