It's Christmas time There's silence on the sea It's christmastime The bag's frozen in my tea And all I want is something else to do Than get lashed with me crew It's hard to be a shantyman on Christmas I should've known My letters were in vain 'Cause santa's sleigh Won't brave this shipping lane Frozen ropes are all I have to hold But nothing feels so cold As being a shantyman on Christmas I have the deck but there's no halls No carols like a siren's call No deer in sight, but rain it pours in droves All year it's haul and pull and hoist I'm losing hope; I've lost my voice I sure could use some Christmas cheer back home But alas! It's christmastime I fear just like the last Put up my lights And tinsel 'round the mast Grin and try to find some yuletide cheer But I can't find it here It's hard to be a shantyman on Christmas Woe is me, the shantyman on Christmas So think about the shantyman this Christmas