| «Well, I once could have married the king’s third son
|
| And a fine young man was he
|
| But now I’m married to a house carpenter
|
| And a noisy, old man is he»
|
| «But will you forsake your house carpenter
|
| And a go along with a-me?
|
| I will take you to where the grass grows green
|
| On the banks of the river deep»
|
| «But will you have to maintain me a-bound
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| To keep me at slavery?»
|
| «Well, I have seven ships, they will soon be at land
|
| And they at your command shall be»
|
| She took her two babes by the hand
|
| And gave them kisses three
|
| Said, «Stay at home you, darling little babes
|
| Keep your father sweet company»
|
| Now, she dressed herself in her very best
|
| Like a high-born lady was she
|
| She shivered and she shimmered and she proudly stepped
|
| As they walked by the banks of the sea
|
| Well, she hadn’t been gone but a short, short time
|
| Until she wept for sor'
|
| «I would give all the gold in this round world
|
| Just to see my babes once more»
|
| «Well, if you had all the gold and the silver, too
|
| That ever did cross the sea
|
| You never would be at land anymore
|
| And your babes you will never more see»
|
| Well, they hadn’t been sailing but a short, short time
|
| About two weeks, three or four
|
| When the ship sprang a leak and they were doomed
|
| And they were far away from the shore
|
| «I see bright hills of Heaven, my dear
|
| Where angels come and go»
|
| «I see bright hills, that’s Hell, my dear
|
| Where you and I must go»
|
| «Well, I wish I was back to my house carpenter
|
| I’m sure he would treat me well
|
| But here I am in the raging sea
|
| And my soul is bound for Hell» |