DARK-EYED SAILOR
(learned from Bob Coltman in 1961)
It was a comely young maiden fair
Fair maid, says he, why do you walk alone?
His coal-black eyes and his curly hair,
'Tis six long years since he left me home,
Said William, Drive him from off your mind.
My every hope is placed on him,
When William did the ring unfold,
Come ladies now, where'er you be,
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
Went walking out to take the air
She met a sailor on-n-n her way,
So I paid attention, so I paid attention
To hear what they did say.
The night is soon, and the day is far gone.
She drew her revolver and then she did cry,
For my dark-eyed sailor, for my dark-eyed sailor,
though he may live or die.
His flattering tongue my heart did ensnare,
Genteel was he, no rake like you,
To advise a maiden, to advise a maiden
to shun the jackets of blue.
A golden ring he took and gently broke,
He gave this token, here, half you see,
And the other he's keeping, and the other he's keeping
to remind him of me.
Many a good sailor like him you'll find,
For love turned aside, it cold doth grow,
Like a winter's morning, like a winter's morning
all covered with snow.
True love will wait, true love will win.
Said she, while tears from her eyes did fall,
'Tis my dark-eyed sailor, 'tis my dark-eyed sailor
approving my downfall.
She was so struck with joy and woe,
You're welcome, William, here's land and gold,
You're my dark-eyed sailor, you're my dark-eyed sailor,
so manly true and bold.
A warning now take from me,
Always be true while your love's away,
For a cloudy morning, for a cloudy morning
oft brings a pleasant day.