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Oh Father, Father, come build me a boat, |
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That o'er this ocean wide I may float, |
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And every ship that I chance to meet, |
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I will inquire for my William sweet. |
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We had not sailed for half an hour, |
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Before we met a man-o-war. |
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Oh, Captain, Captain, come tell me true, |
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Does my boy William sail onboard with you? |
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What color suits did your William wear? |
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What was the colour of your true love's hair? |
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He had a suit of the royal blue, |
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And you would know him for his heart was true. |
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Then your boy William, I'm sad to say, |
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That he was drowned the other day. |
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On yonder island that we passed by, |
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Twas there we laid to rest your sailor boy. |
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She wrung her hands and she tore her hair, |
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She was a young lady in great despair. |
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Oh father, father, how can I go on? |
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How can I live now that my William's gone? |
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I'll sit me down and I'll write me a song, |
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I'll write it neat and I'll write it long, |
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And in every line I will shed a tear, |
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And in every line I will set my William dear. |
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I wish, I wish, but it's all in vain, |
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I wish I was a young maid again. |
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But a maid again I will never be, |
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Till apples grow on an orange tree. |
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But a maid, a maid I will never be, |
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Till apples grow on an orange tree. |
