Sweet William

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