- “Drink up me hearties, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me! You know this song, parrot? Feel free to join in anytime. Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads. Drink up me hearties, yo ho!”
- ―Jack Sparrow in the Magic Kingdom's Pirates of the Caribbean
"Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" is the song featured in the popular Disneyland and Walt Disney World attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean. The song was also featured in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl which was inspired by the ride itself. It also appears on Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Heigh-Ho, Classic Disney: 60 Years of Musical Magic Volume 5, Disney's Greatest Hits Volume 3, and A Musical History of Disneyland, and is featured in the Peter Pan, Jr. Musical.
Lyrics[]
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Maraud and embezzle and even hijack
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We kindle and char, inflame and ignite
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
We burn up the city, we're really a fright
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
A pirate's life is a happy life
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
A rollickin', frolickin', brawlickin' life
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
This version was originally sung by a parrot at the end of the attraction, before he was replaced by Jack Sparrow singing.
Yo ho, yo ho, a parrot's life for me (Awk!)
I warble, twitter, I tweedle and bite
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
I whistle and cackle and gaggle and gripe
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a parrot's life for me
I bark like a beagle, meow like a cat
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
I give and take cannons or just sit and chat
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a parrot's life for me (Squawk!)
A fun-lovin' fowl, I'm really a pip
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
A feathered old salty quite fond of a nip
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho (Awk!)
(squawking)
Yo ho, yo ho, a parrot's life for me (Squawk!)
A pirate, a parrot, a stump-legged cad
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Aye, but I'm loved by my mommy and dad
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Ohh... A pirate's life for me (Yo ho!)
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot
Stand up me 'earties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Stand up me 'earties, yo ho
Ohh... A pirate's life for me (Yo ho!)
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack
Stand up me 'earties, yo ho
Maraud and embezzle and even hijack
Stand up me 'earties, yo ho
Ohh... A pirate's life for me (Yo ho!)
We kindle and char and enflame and ignite
Stand up me 'earties, yo ho
We burn up the city, we're really a fright
Stand up me 'earties, yo ho
We're rascals and scoundrels, and villains and knaves
Stand up me 'earties, yo ho
We're jokers and black sheep, we're really bad eggs
Stand up me 'earties, yo ho
Ohh... A pirate's life for me (Hey!)
Ohh... A pirate's life for me (Yo ho!)
(instrumental break)
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads
Stand up me 'earties, yo ho
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads
Stand up me 'earties, yo ho
(Hey!)
Ohh... A pirate's life for me (4x)
A toast to piracy, and its many shiny rewards.
As a career, what could be more rewarding?
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
I humbly accept this magnificent treasure as my reward for a life of villainy,
larceny, skullduggery, and persnickety-ny.
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
I raise a toast to all of our many shipmates lost at sea.
Salut, mes amis!
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Rascals and scoundrels, villains and knaves
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
Drink up, lads!
There's treasure enough for all
I shall take this paltry sum as a stipend to cover my expenses...
and the chest of jewels.
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
The Kraken leapt from the ocean brine
Look out, me hearties, yo ho
And to the Locker the Sparrow confined
Look out, me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
A goddess thought she'd a Sparrow save
Look out, me hearties, yo ho
And brought a blackguard back from the grave
Look out, me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
The Flying Dutchman is on the hunt
Look out, me hearties, yo ho
To punish a Sparrow for his affront
Look out, me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
Within the chest his secret sleeps
Look out, me hearties, yo ho
The heart of Davy Jones still beats
Look out, me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
Appearances[]
Beverly Hills Family Robinson[]
The song is sung when modern day pirates led by Brinx hijack the Robinsons' yacht while holding them hostage as they sail across the sea to sell the yacht in Singapore. Later in the film, it was sung by a parrot (voiced by Gilbert Gottfried whom voiced Iago) who could repeat everything Marsha and Brinx would say. During the movie, Brinx would sing it with the parrot on his shoulder while trying to find the family on the island they were both shipwrecked on and a few days later to return and bring his men along. At the end of the movie, the parrot would sing it as Brinx and his men are arrested and taken away by the police.
Treasure Planet[]
B.E.N. briefly sings it during his, Morph's and Jim Hawkins' infiltration of the R.L.S. Legacy to disable the cannons to prevent Long John Silver from using them against him and his friends.
Pirates of the Caribbean (franchise)[]
The Curse of the Black Pearl[]
The song is sung at the beginning of the film by young Elizabeth Swann. Later in the film, when Elizabeth and Jack Sparrow were marooned on an island, they sang the song near a bonfire. He remarked that he would later teach it to his crew who would sing it "all the time", a reference to the never-ending actions of the Audio Animatronics of the attraction. As the final lines of the film, Jack Sparrow hums a part of the song while taking the ship's wheel.
Dead Man's Chest[]
While the song does not appear in the film, young Elizabeth Swann can be heard singing it in several trailers.
At World's End[]
The song doesn't appear until the very end of the film, in which Jack Sparrow mutters the song to himself. In the At World's End post-credits scene, the son of Elizabeth Swann sings part of the song before the green flash signaled Will Turner's return.
The version of the song by young Elizabeth Swann can be heard in several trailers. In the film's soundtrack, the musical track "Drink Up Me Hearties" takes its title from the song.
On Stranger Tides[]
Like Dead Man's Chest, the song doesn't appear at all in the film. The closest is when Jack Sparrow tells Joshamee Gibbs "it's a pirate's life for me" as part of the film's final line. This is also used in several TV spots for DVD releases.
Dead Men Tell No Tales[]
The song is heard in the teaser trailer for Dead Men Tell No Tales, but not in the entire film.
Expanded universe[]
The song also appears in Chapter One of Jack Sparrow: The Coming Storm, sung by the Faithful Bride patrons. In Disney Adventures comic Revenge of the Pirates!, the first three lines of final stanza was sung by the Black Pearl crew.
TV appearances[]
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color[]
"Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" can be heard in "Walt Disney's Wonderful World Of Color" episode, which talked about the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. The musical score can be heard in the first part of the ride, and the song would be sung in the rest of the ride until the end of the episode.
House of Mouse[]
In the House of Mouse episode "Thanks to Minnie", the song is sung with different lyrics and called A Parrot's Life For Me. It was performed by Iago (voiced by Gilbert Gottfried) and two other parrots.
Video games[]
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game[]
When you beat all the main story missions, collect all the Minikits, get True Pirate on all levels, and find all the secret compass locations, a bonus level is unlocked. The level is a recreation of the original Pirates of the Caribbean ride, playing the theme music and the song is sung in the background.
Where's My Water?[]
After the player purchases Allie's story, the song is heard when he/she completes all the challenges in Allie Challenge 3. The song's description is "Hum while searching for lost treasure."
Kingdom Hearts III[]
The song is used in the opening cutscenes for "The Caribbean" world with new expository lyrics to briefly summarize the events of Dead Man's Chest as the game chose to adapt At World's End instead.
Disney Parks[]
Pirates of the Caribbean[]
"Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" is the theme song featured in the original Disneyland attraction Pirates of the Caribbean. A rousing rendition is played throughout the grotto scene (partially on a harpsichord), and is later sung by pirates near the end of the ride. Since the 2006 refurbishments, Captain Jack Sparrow is seen singing the song at the end of the ride.
In the original incarnation of the Magic Kingdom version of the attraction, an animatronic green parrot outside the start of the queue dressed in a pirate's hat, eyepatch, and wooden leg similar to the Barker Bird from Disneyland's "Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room" would sing "Yo ho, yo ho, a parrot's life for me".
Due to the success of the attraction at Disneyland, the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction was later constructed at Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris, still featuring the "Yo Ho" theme song in it.
World of Color[]
The Disney's World of Color show briefly plays the song prior to the main Pirates of the Caribbean segment.
The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow[]
At the end of the attraction, the talking skull tells guests to sing "A Pirate's Life for Me". The audio from the original Disney ride plays briefly as Jack Sparrow conducts the song before drinking a bottle of rum.
Versions[]
- 1967 - Song composed for the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction by Bruns and Atencio. (Lyrics as composed by Atencio and Bruns)
- 1986 - Singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett uses the melody as the opening to his single "Take it Back" which was written for the US America's Cup yachting team.
- 1992 - A syndication promo for TaleSpin featured a version sung by Don Karnage and his air pirates.
- 1995 - A snippet version of the song was briefly featured in the Beach Party At Walt Disney World video of the Mickey's Fun Songs series at the end of the song "A Pirate's Life (Is a Wonderful Life)".
- 2002 - The song is featured briefly in the Disney film Treasure Planet. The robot B.E.N. (Martin Short) sings a few bars while aboard the R.L.S. Legacy.
- 2003 - The song is featured in the Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. A few bars are sung by young Elizabeth Swann (Lucinda Dryzek). An older Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) later teaches it to Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) while they are marooned on an island. It is sung once again at the end of the film by Captain Jack Sparrow.
- 2006 - A version is sung by the Jonas Brothers in DisneyMania 4; the refrain "Drink up me hearties" is replaced with "Stand up me hearties".
- 2007 - A few bars of the song are sung again near the end of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. A few bars are also sung after the credits by the son of Elizabeth. The instrumentals and dialogue from the attraction are heard as well in the fade to black after the descent off World's End.
- 2010 - Disney's World of Color show briefly plays the song prior to the main Pirates of the Caribbean segment.
- 2011 - Brian Wilson covered it in a medley on his album In the Key of Disney, which was released on October 25, 2011.
- 2022 - Disney Enchantment show briefly plays the song as part of the revamped version of the show that features the attractions segments.
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- When interviewed for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Orlando Bloom, Javier Bardem, Geoffrey Rush, Kaya Scodelario, Brenton Thwaites and Jerry Bruckheimer react to to "Yo Ho (A Pirates Life for Me)" with some of them either not remembering the lyrics or hating the song.[1]
- In the Heigh-Ho Sing-Along Songs volume, the fourth verse is not used possibly for mature themes and jumps straight to the fifth verse.
External links[]
Notes and references[]
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This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from the Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki. The list of authors can be seen in the page revision history (view authors). As with Disney Wiki, the text of PotC Wiki is available under the CC-by-SA Free Documentation License. |
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This page uses content from the English Wikipedia page Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me). The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. |
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