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We've met, we've met, my old true love |
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We've met, we've met, said he |
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I've just returned from the salt, salt sea |
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And it's all for the love of thee |
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I could have married the King's daughter fair |
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She would have married me |
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But I've forsaken her crown of gold |
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And it's all for the love of thee |
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Come in, come in, my old true love |
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Come in, she said to him |
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For it's been three fourths of a long, long year |
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Since together we have been |
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No, I can't come in, nor I can't sit down |
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For I have but a moment's time |
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And they say that you're married to a house carpenter |
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And your heart will never be mine |
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Will you come with me, my old true love? |
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Oh come with me, said he |
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And I'll take you to where the grass grows green |
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On the banks of Bittery |
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Then she picked up her sweet little babe |
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And kisses she gave it three |
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Sayin', stay at home my darlin' little babe |
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And keep your papa company |
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Then he jumped on a milk white steppe |
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And her on a dapple grey |
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They rode until they came to the banks of a sea |
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Three hours before the break of day |
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They had not been on the ship two weeks |
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I'm sure it was not three |
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Until his true love began to weep and to mourn |
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And she wept most bitterly |
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Oh, is it for my silver you weep? |
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Is it for my store? |
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Or is it for that house carpenter |
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Whose face you'll never see no more? |
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It's neither for you silver I weep |
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And neither for your store |
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But it's all for the sake of my sweet little babe |
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Whose face I'll never see no more |
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Then a curse, a curse to the sailor she cried |
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A curse, a curse, she swore |
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You've robbed me of my house carpenter |
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Whose face I'll never see no more |
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They had not been on the ship three weeks |
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I'm sure it was not four |
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Till they sprang a leak in the bottom of the ship |
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And it sunk for to rise no more |
