| The king sits in dunfermline town
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| Drinking the blood red wine,
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| «where can I get a good sea captain
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| To sail in this ship of mine? |
| "
|
| Then up there spoke a bonny boy
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| Sitting at the king’s right knee,
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| «sir patrick spens is the very best seaman
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| That ever sailed the sea.»
|
| The king has written a broad letter
|
| And sealed it up with his own right hand,
|
| Sending word to sir patrick spens
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| To come at his command.
|
| «an enemy then this must be
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| Who told a lie bout me,
|
| For I was never a good seaman
|
| Nor ever do I intend to be.»
|
| They had not sailed upon the sea
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| A day, but barely three,
|
| When loud and boisterous grew the winds
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| And stormy grew the sea.
|
| Then up there came a mermaiden
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| A comb and glass in hand,
|
| «here's a health to you my merry young men,
|
| For you’ll not see dry land again!»
|
| «oh, long may my lady look
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| With a lantern in her hand
|
| Before she sees my bonny ship
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| Come sail homeward to dry land.»
|
| Oh Forty miles off aberdeen
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| The water’s just fifty fathoms deep
|
| There lies good sir patrick spens
|
| With the scots lords at his feet |