1: O the king sits in Dunfermline Toun,
He's a-drinkin the blood-red wine;
He said, "Whaur shall I find a skeely skipper,
To sail this fine ship o mine?"

2: Then up and spake an auld eldren knight,
Wha sat by the king's right knee;
He says, “Sir Patrick Spens is the finest sailor,
That ever did sail the sea.”

3: So the king he's taen his quill in hand,
In a letter he did say,
“You maun tak this to Sir Patrick Spens,
You maun tak it right away.”

4: O the first words that Sir Patrick read
A loud laugh laughed he;
Then the next words Sir Patrick read,
O a tear it blinded his ee.

5: He said, “Wha's gan and done this thing,
And has tellt the king on me,
That I maun sail through storm and gale
That I maun gang to Norway?”

6: “But I'll go, my lord, I will sail, my king,
I'll go right through the faem;
I shall make my way to Norway,
And I'll bring young Margaret hame.”

7: So he sailed away from Burntisland toun,
He sailed right through the faem;
For he was bound for Norway.
Just to bring young Margaret hame.

8: But he had not been in Norway,
O a week nor scarcely three;
When the highest lords in the king's court,
Did turn around and did say.

9: “O those Scottish men, they drink our wine,
And they spend our gold;
And they have came to Norway,
And they brought none of their own.”

10: “O you leers aloud,” cried Sir Patrick Spens,
“You leers aloud,” cried he,
There is twenty thousand of gold and silver,
That I have brought with me.”

11: “But I'll sail this night, this very night,
I'll sail right through the faem;
I shall make my way to Scotland,
And I'll bring young Margaret hame.”

12: So he sailed away from Norway,
He sailed right through the faem;
For he was bound to Dunfermline toun,
Just to bring young Margaret hame.

13: But in the Firth o Forth he ran into a storm,
And the waves round them they did sweep;
Now Sir Patrick Spens and his gallant crew,
Lie sleepin in the deep.