My Sailor Boy lyrics

Father, Father, build me a boat

That on the ocean I'll go and float

And every kingship that do pass by

Their island cry for my sailor boy

I hadn't been sailing but half an hour

Before I met a boatman with warmth

"Captain, captain, tell me true

Is my sweet William onboard with you?"

"No, kind lady, he's not here

That he's drowned most breaks my fear

The other night when the wind blew high

That's when you lost your sweet sailor boy"

I'll set me down, I'll write a song

I'll write it neat and I'll write it long

In every verse, I will shed a tear

In every line holds sweet William, dear

She run her hands and she tore her hair

Just like a lady in deep despair

A boat against the rocks did run

How can I live now my William's gone?

• Artist:Shirley Collins
• Album:Crowlink (EP, 2021)