Upon one summer's morning, I carelessly did stray,
Conversing with a bouncing lass, who seem'd to be in pain,
His hair it does in ringlets hang, his eyes as black as sloes,
May happiness attend him wherever he goes,
My father is a merchant—the truth I now will tell,
And he frowns upon his daughter, 'cause she loves a sailor bold.
A fig for his riches, his merchandize, and gold,
True love is grafted in my heart; give me my sailor bold:
Should he return in poverty, from o'er the ocean far,
My sailor is as smiling as the pleasant month of May,
And oft we have wandered through Ratcliffe Highway,
Come all you pretty fair maids, whoever you may be
Who love a jolly sailor bold that ploughs the raging sea,
And firmly pray, arrive the day, he home will safe return.
My name it is Maria, a merchant's daughter fair,
And I have left my parents and three thousand pounds a year, My heart is pierced by Cupid, I disdain all glittering gold,
There is nothing can console me but my jolly sailor bold.