As I roved out one fine summer's evening
To view those flowers and to take the air,
'Twas there I spied a tender mother
Talking to her daughter dear
Daughter, O daughter, I'II have you to marry,
No longer to live a sweet single life
O mother, O mother, I'd rather to tarry
To be a brave young sailor's wife
A sailor shy sits all for to wander
To some foreign country he go
They will cause you to sigh and to murmur
They will prove your overthrow
Or if you could get me to wed with a farmer
To be your joy and heart's delight
But give me the boy with the tarry, tarry trousers
Shine in my eye like the diamond bright
She hung her head on the top of her shoulders
Tears from her eyes like the fountains flowed
I'll stay at home and be true-hearted
Whilst my love to the seas doth go
Hark, O hark, how the great guns are a-rattling
Big and small, they all make noise
My true love's in the field of battle
Now fight on, my gallant boys