A Sailor's Life

A sailor's life it is a merry life He robs young girls of their hearts' delight Leaving them behind to weep and mourn They never know when they will return Well there's four and twenty all in a row My true love he makes the finest show He's proper tall genteel withal And if I don't have him I'll have none at all Oh father build for me a bonny boat That on the wide ocean I may float And every Queen's ship that we pass by There I'll enquire for my sailor boy They had not sailed long upon the deep When a Queen's ship they chanced to meet You sailors all pray tell me true Does my sweet William sail among your crew Oh no fair maiden he is not here For he's been drownded we greatly fear On yon green island as we passed it by There we lost sight of your sailor boy Well she wrung her hands and she tore her hair She was like a young girl in great despair And her little boat against a rock did run How can I live now my sweet William is gone Well she wrung her hands and she tore her hair She was like a young girl in great despair And her little boat against a rock did run How can I live now my sweet William is gone