| Oh I will set my ship in order
|
| I will sail her on the sea
|
| I’ll go far over yonder border
|
| To see if my love minds on me
|
| And he sailed east and he sailed west
|
| He sailed far, far seeking land
|
| Until he came to his true love’s window
|
| And he knocked loud and would be in
|
| «Oh who is that at my bedroom window?
|
| Who knocks so loud and would be in?»
|
| «'Tis I, 'tis I, your ain true lover
|
| And I am drenched untae my skin
|
| So go and go and ask your faither
|
| And see if he’ll let you marry me
|
| If he says no, come back and tell me
|
| And it’s the last time I’ll trouble thee"
|
| «My father’s in his chamber writing
|
| Setting down his merchandise
|
| And in his hand he holds a letter
|
| And it speaks much in your dispraise
|
| My mother’s in her chamber sleeping
|
| And words of love she will not hear
|
| So you may go and court another
|
| And whisper softly in her ear"
|
| Then she arose, put on her clothing
|
| It was to let her true love in
|
| But e’re she had the door unlockit
|
| His ship was sailing on the main
|
| «Come back, come back, my ain dear Johnny
|
| Come back, come back and marry me»
|
| «How can I come back and marry you, love?
|
| Our ship is sailing on the sea»
|
| The fish may fly, and the seas run dry
|
| The rocks may melt doon wi' the sun
|
| And the working man may forget his labor
|
| Before that my love returns again
|
| She’s turned herself right roun' about
|
| She’s flung herself intae the sea
|
| Farewell for aye, my ain dear Johnny
|
| Ye’ll ne’er hae tae come back to me |