New York Girls


"New York Girls", also known as "Can't You Dance the Polka," is a traditional sea shanty. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 486.

Lyrics

The lyrics have many variations, but almost all versions contain this chorus, sung after each verse:
An less common alternate chorus is:
The lyrics are often a cautionary tale of a sailor being tricked by a pretty girl, who ends up spending all of his money and, in some cases, robbing him. This is summed up in these verses found in some versions:

Recordings

The song has been recorded by many artists: