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?

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."