Sweet William - Alasdair Roberts

Oh Father, Father, come build me a boat

That o’er this ocean wide I may float

And every ship that I chance to meet

I will inquire for my William sweet

We had not sailed for half an hour

Before we met a man-o-war

Oh, Captain, Captain, come tell me true

Does my boy William sail onboard with you?

What color suits did your William wear?

What was the colour of your true love’s hair?

He had a suit of the royal blue

And you would know him for his heart was true

Then your boy William, I’m sad to say

That he was drowned the other day

On yonder island that we passed by

Twas there we laid to rest your sailor boy

She wrung her hands and she tore her hair

She was a young lady in great despair

Oh father, father, how can I go on?

How can I live now that my William’s gone?

I’ll sit me down and I’ll write me a song

I’ll write it neat and I’ll write it long

And in every line I will shed a tear

And in every line I will set my William dear

I wish, I wish, but it’s all in vain

I wish I was a young maid again

But a maid again I will never be

Till apples grow on an orange tree

But a maid, a maid I will never be

Till apples grow on an orange tree