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Traditional |
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As I roved out one evening fair |
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It bein' the summertime to take the air |
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I spied a sailor and a lady gay |
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And I stood to listen |
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And I stood to listen to hear what they would say. |
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He said "Fair lady, why do you roam |
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For the day is spent and the night is on" |
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She heaved a sigh while the tears did roll |
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"For my dark-eyed sailor |
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For my dark-eyed sailor, so young and stout and bold." |
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"'Tis seven long years since he left this land |
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A ring he took from off his lily-white hand |
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One half of the ring is still here with me |
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But the other's rollin' |
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But the other's rollin' at the bottom of the sea." |
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He said "You may drive him out of your mind |
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Some other young man you will surely find |
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Love turns aside and soon cold has grown |
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Like the winter's morning |
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Like the winter's morning, the hills are white with snow." |
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She said "I'll never forsake my dear |
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Although we're parted this many a year |
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Genteel he was and a rake like you |
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To induce a maiden |
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To induce a maiden to slight the jacket blue." |
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One half of the ring did young William show |
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She ran distracted in grief and woe |
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Sayin' "William, William, I have gold in store |
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For my dark-eyed sailor |
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For my dark-eyed sailor has proved his honour long" |
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And there is a cottage by yonder lea |
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This couple's married and does agree |
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So maids be loyal when your love's at sea |
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For a cloudy morning |
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For a cloudy morning brings in a sunny day. |
