Twas early early in the Spring
I went on board to serve the king
My darlin Jean, I left behind
But ayewis kept her on my mind

When I wis sailin on the seas
I couldna get a minutes ease
for she wis ayewis on my mind
That bonnie lassie I left behind

They pit me doon on a foreign shore
The guns did blast and the cannons roar
But for a the danger I wis in
I couldna get her aff my mind

So when I returned to my native shore
I went straightway to my lovers door
But her father he made this reply
My daughter does your love deny

I said, auld man what dae ye mean
Saes he, I ken fine ye love my Jean
But she is married now for life
She is a rich young merchants wife

I curse the gowd and the siller too
likewise a wimen that prove untrue
The vows they make, they easily break
and sell their souls for riches sake

Sae I’ll turn my back on a’ Womankind
and gae back on board, some peace tae find
I’ll sail the sat seas till I die
An plough the waves that roll mountains high

Greig ~ Duncan / Vol 1 / No.51 A compilation and slight rewrite of the different versions, by Tom Spiers

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