My Love Willie
A sailors life it's a rambling life,
They rob all young men of their heart's delight;
For the other night when the wind blew high,
That's when I lost sight of my Willie boy. As sung by Danny Brazil, Gloucester 27 Apr 1966 (Springthyme 66.4.22). In: Shepheard, Peter. Folk Songs and Ballads of the Brazil Family of Gloucester (1967).
A sailor’s life it’s a rambling life,
They rob young maids of their heart's delight;
For the other night when the wind blew high,
That’s when I lost sight of my Willie boy.
My father he built me a little boat,
Out on the ocean as I could float;
An’ every Queen ship I enchanced to meet,
For to with her enquire for my William sweet.
I hadn’t sailed far out on the deep,
For three Queen ships I enchanced to meet;
“Come all you sailors, come tell me do,
An’ do my love Willie sail amongst your crew.”
“Oh no fair lady, your love’s not here,
Your love is drownded you needn’t fear;
For the last green island as we passed by,
That’s where we lost sight of your William boy.
She wrung her hands and he tore her hair,
Just like a woman all in despair;
The little boat on the black rock run,
What shall ever I do now my sailor’s gone.
You bring me a sofa to kneel upon,
A pen and ink I will write a song;
An’ every line I will drop a tear,
For it’s at the bottom I lost my dear.
Come all you ladies that’s dressed in white,
Never let young sailors be your heart’s delight;
Your heart will ache when you can’t get none,
And it’s so do mine for my sailor boy.
[ BACK ]
[ HOME ][ TOP ]