“Father, father, come build me a boat
That over the wide ocean I may go
And every ship that I pass by
There I'll enquire of my sailor boy”

I hadn't been sailing but half an hour
Before I met a bold man-of-war
“Captain, captain, come tell me true
Is my sweet William on board with you?”

“No, kind lady, he is not here
That he has drownded most great I fear
The other night when the wind blew high
That's when we lost your sailor boy”

I'll sat me down, I'll write a song
I'll write it neat and I'll write it long
In every verse I'll shed a tear
In every line hold Willy dear

I wish I wish but it's all in vain
I wish I was a maid again
But a maid, a maid I'll never be
Till apples grow on an orange tree