THE FAIR LADY
There was a lady in her father's garden
And a well-dressed gentleman was passing by,
He stood a while and he gazed all at her,
And he said, "Fair lady, would you fancy I?"
"I am no lady but a poor girl,
And a poor girl of low degree ,
And so young man, seek another sweetheart,
For I'm not fitting your serving-maid to be."
"I have a house and a good living,
And plenty of money to get you free,
And I will make you a nice young lady
And you'll have servants to wait on thee."
"'Tis seven years since I had a sweetheart
And seven more since I did him see,
And seven more will I wait upon him,
And if he's a true love he'll come back to me."
"'Tis seven years since you had a sweetheart
And seven more since you you did him see,
So perhaps he is another's husband
And never more will return to thee."
"If he Is sick, I wish 'him better,
If he is dead, I wish him rest,
If he's alive 1'll wait upon him
For he's the young man that I love the best."
He put his hand into his bosom,
His lily-white fingers they were long and small,
And up between them he drew a gold ring
And When she saw it she down did fall.
He took her up all in his arms
And gave her kisses most tenderly,
Saying, "I'm Your lover and single sailor
You thought drownded all in the sea."
"If you're my lover and single sailor
Your face and features are strange to me,
But seven years makesa great alteration
And the raging seas between you and me."
Come all young maidens who hear my story
Don't slight your true love when he's on the sea,
And he'll come home and he'll make you own
And he'll take you over to Amerikay.