Sailorboy

It was early,early all in the spring

when my love Willie went to serve a king

the night been dark and the wind blew high

which parted me from my sailor boy

"Oh father,father, give me a boat

for on the ocean I mean to float

to watch the bigger ships as they pass by

for I might enquire for my sailor boy

She had not sailed it for a week or two

when she spied a captain and all his crew

"Oh captain, captain, come tell me true,

does my love Willie sail on board with you?"

What was the colour of your Willie's hair,

what was the colour does young Willie wear?

"A red-blue jacket and his trousers white

and his curly hair was my heart's delight"

"Oh fair maid, fair maid, he is not here,

for he's lost or drowned, I am afraid

for in yon green island as we passed by

t'was there we lost the fine sailor boy"

She wrung her hands and she tore her hair

just like a lady in deep despair

she called for paper, both pen and ink

and every line she did drop a tear

and every word she cried "Willie dear"

So father, father, go dig my grave

go dig it long and go dig it wide

place marble stone at my head and feet

that the world may know that I died in grief