Traditional
Canadee-I-O
[Verse 1]
It's of a fair and handsome girl
And she's all in her tender years
She fell in love with a sailor boy
And it's true that she loved him well
For to go off to sea with him
Like she did not know how
She longed to see that seaport town
Called Canadee-I-O

[Verse 2]
So she bargained with a young sailor boy
It's all for a piece of gold
Straightway that he led her
All down into the hold
Saying, "I'll dress you up in sailor's clothes
Your jacket shall be blue
You'll see that seaport town
Called Canadee-I-O"

[Verse 3]
Now, when the other sailors heard the news
Well, they fell into a rage
And with the whole ship's company
They were willing to engage
Saying, "We'll tie her hands and feet my boys
Overboard we'll throw her
And she'll never see that seaport town
Called Canadee-I-O"
[Verse 4]
Now, when the captain he's heard the news
Well, he too fell in a rage
And with all of his whole ship's company
He was willing to engage
Saying, "She will stay all in sailor's clothes
Her colour shall be blue
She'll see that seaport town
Called Canadee-I-O"

[Verse 5]
Now when they came down to Canada
Scarcely above half a year
She's married this bold captain
Who called her his dear
She's dressed in silks and satins now
And she cuts a gallant show
She's the finest of the ladies
Down in Canadee-I-O

[Verse 6]
Come all you fair and tender girls
Wheresoever you may be
I'd have you to follow your own true love
When he goes out on the sea
For if the sailors prove false to you
Well, the captain he might prove true
You see the honour that I have gained
By the wearing of the blue