| lyric | As I rov'd out one ev'ning fair
it being the summetime to take the air
I spied a sailor and alady fair
and I stood to listen
and I stood to listen to hear
what they would say with afaldalday.
He said, ‘Fair lady, why do you roam
For the day is spent and the night is on.’
She heaved a sigh, while tears did roll
‘For my dark-eyed sailor}
For my dark-eyed sailor,
So young and stout and bold.’
""Tis seven long years since he left this land,
A ring he took from off his lily-white hand,
One half of the ring is still here with me,
But the other’s rolling,
But the other’s rolling
At the bottom of the sea.’
He said, ‘Ye may drive him out of your mind,
Some other young man you’ll surely find;
Love turns aside and cold does grow,
Like a winter’s morning,
Like a winter’s morning,
With the hills all white with snow.’
She said, ‘I’ll never forsake my dear,
Although we’ re parted this many a year.
Genteel he was and no rake like you,
To tempt a maiden,
To tempt a maiden,
To slight the jacket blue.’
One half of the ring did young William show,
She ran distracted in grief and woe,
Saying, ‘William, William, l have gold in store
For my dark-eyed sailor,
For my dark-eyed sailor,
Has returned to me once more.’
There is a cottage by yonder lea,
This couple’s married and do well agree;
So maids be loyal when your love’s at sea,
For a cloudy morning,
For a cloudy morning,
Will bring a sunny day. |