| lyric | 'Twas early early all in the Spring
when my love Willlie went to serve the King,
The rain was falling, the wind blew high
and parted me from my sailor boy.
‘Father, Father, come build me a boat
’Tis on the ocean I mean to float
To watch French vessels as they pass by
And to enquire for my Sailor boy.’
She was not long sailing o’er the deep
When a man-o’—Warsman she chanced to meet
Saying, ‘Captain, Captain, come tell me true
Is my love Willie on board with you.’
‘What colour hair had your W'illie dear?
What colour clothes did your Willie wear?‘
‘He wore a jacket of royal blue,
His hair was fair and his heart was true.’
‘Indeed fair lady he is not here
That he is drowned to say I fear
’Twas on Green Island as we paSSed by
we lost five more and your Sailor b0y.‘
‘Father, Father come dig me a grave
And at my head a tombstone lay
‘And in the centre a turtle dove
To let the world know I died of love.’
She wrung her hands and she tore her hair
Just like a lady in deep despair.
She dashed the small boat against the rocks
Saying, ‘How can I live and my Willie lost.’
She wrote a letter, she wrote it long
And in the letter she wrote a song.
At every line she shed a tear
And every word she cried. ‘Willic dear.’ |