Dark Eyed Sailor

As I roved out one evening fair
 It bein' the summertime to take the air
 I spied a sailor and a lady gay
 And I stood to listen
 And I stood to listen to hear what they would say
 He said "Fair lady, why do you roam
 For the day is spent and the night is on"
 She heaved a sigh while the tears did roll
 "For my dark-eyed sailor
 For my dark-eyed sailor, so young and stout and bold."
 "'Tis seven long years since he left this land
 A ring he took from off his lily-white hand
 One half of the ring is still here with me
 But the other's rollin'
 But the other's rollin' at the bottom of the sea."
 He said "You may drive him out of your mind
 Some other young man you will surely find
 Love turns aside and soon cold has grown
 Like the winter's morning
 Like the winter's morning, the hills are white with snow."
 She said "I'll never forsake my dear
 Although we're parted this many a year
 Genteel he was and a rake like you
 To induce a maiden
 To induce a maiden to slight the jacket blue."
 One half of the ring did young William show
 She ran distracted in grief and woe
 Sayin' "William, William, I have gold in store
 For my dark-eyed sailor
 For my dark-eyed sailor has proved his honour long"
 And there is a cottage by yonder lea
 This couple's married and does agree
 So maids be loyal when your love's at sea
 For a cloudy morning
 For a cloudy morning brings in a sunny day