The boat rides South of Ailsa Craig in the waning of the light There's thirty men in Lendalfit tae mak our burdens bright 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 hae ten Can ye no live a lawful life ta live wi' lawful men? But must I live with homely goods while there's foreign gear sae fine Must I drink at the waterside, and France sae full of wine? 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 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 and the parson drinks it too With a sly wink, prays, "Forgive these men, for they know not what they do" 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 It's a smuggler's life for me It's a smuggler's life for me