Brian Peters The Banks Of Green Willow
Oh it's of a sea captain lived by the sea-side
And he's courted of a lady till she's proved by child
"Go and fetch some of your father's gold and some of your mother's money
To sail across the ocean along with young Johnny."
Now they hadn't been a-sailing six days, no, not many
Before she needed woman's help but could not get any
And they hadn't been a-sailing a mile, or not many
Before she was delivered of a beautiful baby
Now they hadn't sailed on for today and tomorrow
She was wringing of her hands, she was crying with sorrow
But, oh, says the captain, "My ship will not sail for me
Though the sails are outspread she lies still on the salt sea."
"O Captain, O Captain, here's fifty gold pounds
To take me back safe again, to turn the ship round
"Oh no," says the captain, "such a thing it never can be
For ‘tis better to lose two lives than it is to lose many."
"Then bring me a silk napkin and bind my head easy
And throw me right overboard, both me and my baby."
So he's brought a silk napkin and bound it so softly
And he's thrown her right overboard both her and her baby
"Oh, fetch me the lifeboat and row her back to me
Oh, bring my love back again, both she and her baby
Ah, but see, boys, how she do tumble and see how she do taver
I'm afraid that she is drowning, which makes my heart quaver
"Well, I will write me a letter, tell her friends that my love is drowned
And she shall have a coffin if she ever is found
And her coffin shall be made of the gold shining yellow
And she will be buried on the banks of green willow."
And her coffin shall be made of the gold shining yellow
And she will be buried on the banks of green willow