[Verse 1]
"Where have you been my long lost love
These seven long years and more?
I am come to seek my former vows
You granted me before"

[Verse 2]
"Well I might have married a king's daughter
Far far beyond the sea
But I forsaken the crowns of gold
All for the love of thee"

[Verse 3]
"Well, if you might have married a king's daughter
Yourself you have to blame
For I am married to a ship's carpenter
And to him I've a son"

[Verse 4]
"Well, I've seven good ships all upon the sea
And the eighth brought me to land
And I've four and twenty mariners
And gold on every hand"

[Verse 5]
And so she's taken up her little young son
And she's kissed him cheek and chin
Saying, "Fare you well my ordinary young son
I'll never see you again"
[Verse 6]
Now they hadn't been sailing long on the deep
Nor but a league but one
Till she began to weep and mourn
And to think on her young son

[Verse 7]
"Oh, hold your tongue my dearest dear
Let all your mourning be
And I'll show you where the white fishes swim
At the bottom of the sea"

[Verse 8]
And he's struck the top mast with his hand
And the main mast with his knee
And he's struck that gallant ship in twain
And he's sunk her in the sea