There was a young maiden, who lived all alone
(She lived all alone on the shore-o)
There was naught she could find that would comfort her mind,
But to roam all alone on the shore (shore, shore),
But to roam all alone on the shore.
There was a young captain, who sailed the salt sea
(Let the wind blow high, blow low)
"Oh I'll die, oh I'll die," that young captain did cry,
"If I dont get that maid on the shore (shore, shore).
If I dont get that maid on the shore."
"I've got lots of silver, I've got lots of gold, and I've got lots of costly ware-o.
I'll divide, I'll divide," this young captain did cry,
"If they'll bring me the maid from the shore (shore, shore)
If they'll bring me from the shore."
So with long persuading they got her onboard,
(Let the wind blow high, blow low)
Then he seated her down in his cabin below,
"There's a due toward sorrows and care (care, care)
There's a due toward sorrows and care."
The night being so still and the water so calm
(Let the wind blow high, blow low)
She sang charming and sweet, she sang neat and complete,
She sang sailors and captain to sleep (sleep, sleep)
She sang sailors and captain to sleep.
Then, she robbed him of silver, she robbed him of gold,
She robbed him of costly ware-o.
Then she stole his broad sword for to make her an oar
And she rowed herself back to the shore (shore, shore)
And she rowed herself back to the shore.
"Well, were my men stupid, or were my men drunk?
Or were my men deep in despair-o?
Oh, to let you away with your beauty so gay
For to roam once again on the shore (shore, shore)
For to roam once again on the shore."
"No, your men they weren't stupid, your men they weren't drunk,
Your men weren't so deep in despair-o.
I deluded your sailors as well as yourself
I'm a maiden once more on the shore (shore, shore)
I'm a maiden once more on the shore."