A sailor’s life, it is a merry life.
He robs young girls of their hearts' delight,
Leaving them behind to weep and mourn,
And they never know when they will return.
Well, there’s four and twenty all in a row
My sweetheart makes the finest show.
He’s proper tall, genteel with thrall,
And if I don’t have him, I’ll have none at all.
Oh father, build me a bonny boat,
So on the wide ocean I must float
And every ship that I pass by,
I’ll enquire for my lone sailor boy
They had not sailed long on the deep
When a Queen’s ship they chanced to meet.
«Oh sailors all, please tell me true,
Does my sweet William sail along with you?»
«Oh no, fair maiden, he is not here
For he’s been drowned, we greatly fear
On yonder isle as we passed it by,
There we lost the sight of your sailor boy.»
Well, she wrung her hands and she tore her hair.
Much like a damsel in great despair.
And her boat against a rock did run.
«How can I live now my William is gone?»