Fairport Convention:A Sailor's Life

“A Sailor's Life”
Artist:	Fairport Convention
Albums:	The History of Fairport Convention (1972)

A sailor's life
It is a merry life
He robs young girls
Of their heart's 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 inquire 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 sailing 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?