There was a lady in her father's garden A brisk young sailor came pa**ing by He stood awhile and he gazed upon her And he said, "Young lady, won't you marry I?" "I'm not a lady but a poor wee girl And a poor wee girl of low degree Therefore, young man, you may try some other For a servant girl, I'm not fit to thee" "Oh I have houses and great big living And plenty money for to set you free If you'll come home, I'll make you my own And you'll have servants to wait on thee" "It's seven years since I had a sweetheart And seven more since I did him see Seven years I will wait upon him For if he's alive he'll come home to me" "It's seven years since you had a sweetheart And seven more since you did him see Seven more you will wait upon him Perhaps this young man you might never see" "Oh if he's sick I wish him better Or if he's dead I wish him rest But if he's alive I will wait upon him For he is the young man that I love best" He put his hand into his pockets His lily-white fingers being thin and small And up he came and he pulls a gold ring And when she saw it, she damn did fall He lifted her up into his arms And gave her kisses quite tenderly Saying, "I'm your young and your single sailor And been many years on the ocean tossed" "Well, if you're my young and single sailor Your face and features seem strange to me But seven years makes great alteration And the raging seas between you and I" So come all you fair and tender maidens Don't slight your sailors whilst they're at sea When they come home, they'll make you their own And they'll bring you o'er to Americay