[Verse]

Every free man has the right to vote

On any affair given on our boat

If a man votes wrong then we slit his throat

'Cause he broke the Captain's Code

If a limb is lost then a man will beg

To cover the cost of his own right leg

If the money's lost, he'll be shot instead

'Cause he broke the Captain's Code

And you don't fight back if they cut your hand

Every man's fight is left on land

The fight will end if blood is drawn

No matter who dies we sail at dawn

Clean up your mess and thank God you survived one more day

If you wanna be free then you better obey!

[Refrain]

Better obey, better obey, better obey

The Captain's Code

Better obey, better obey, better obey

Better obey the Captain's Code

[Verse]

If you sneak aboard a maiden fair

And cover her clothes and cover her hair

Your lover and you will be left bare

And to watch as we sail away

If we find you gamblin' for a price

And we've warned you once but you've gambled twice

You'll be left no share but your cards and dice

And you'll watch as we sail away

And you don't stand down if your crew gets caught

And you don't stand down when your Captain's shot

If you're standin' down when the ship's at war

Then it's not our ship who you're fightin' for

When the war's over you get on your knees, boy, and pray

If you wanna be free then you better obey!

[Refrain]

Better obey, better obey, better obey

The Captain's Code

Better obey, better obey, better obey

Better obey!

[Bridge]

If a sailor steal's another's pay

(Then he'll be dead by the end of day)

If the money somehow disappears

(We slit his nose and cut his ears)

The Captain keeps us safe and fed

We serve the ship until we're dead

We all repay the debt we owe

By following the Captain's code

O-bey-y-y

[Verse]

And you don't keep secrets from your crew

Or lie about the things you do

We'll cry when we all learn it's you

Who broke the Captain's code!

(You broke the Captain's code!)

So take your pistol, take your sword

Get on your knees, pray to the Lord

'Cause someone's going overboard

You broke the Captain's Code!

[Refrain}

(Better obey, better obey, better o-

Better obey, better obey, better o-

Better obey, better obey, better o-)

Better obey the Captain's Code!