There was a lady in her father's garden
a brisk young sailor came passing by
he stood awhile and he gazed upon her
and he said, "young lady, won't you marry i?"
"i'm not a lady but a poor wee girl
and a poor wee girl of low degree
therefore, young man, you may try some other
for a servant girl, i'm not fit to thee"
"oh i have houses and great big living
and plenty money for to set you free
if you'll come home, i'll make you my own
and you'll have servants to wait on thee"
"it's seven years since i had a sweetheart
and seven more since i did him see
seven years i will wait upon him
for if he's alive he'll come home to me"
"it's seven years since you had a sweetheart
and seven more since you did him see
seven more you will wait upon him
perhaps this young man you might never see"
"oh if he's sick i wish him better
or if he's dead i wish him rest
but if he's alive i will wait upon him
for he is the young man that i love best"
He put his hand into his pockets
his lily-white fingers being thin and small
and up he came and he pulls a gold ring
and when she saw it, she damn did fall
He lifted her up into his arms
and gave her kisses quite tenderly
saying, "i'm your young and your single sailor
and been many years on the ocean tossed"
"well, if you're my young and single sailor
your face and features seem strange to me
but seven years makes great alteration
and the raging seas between you and i"
So come all you fair and tender maidens
don't slight your sailors whilst they're at sea
when they come home, they'll make you their own
and they'll bring you o'er to americay