Sweet Willie





I'll build myself a little boat,

And on the ocean I will float; 

I'll hail all the ships as they pass by,

For I thought I heard Sweet Willie's cry.



"Captain, Captain! Tell me true,

Does my Willie sail with you?"

"No, pretty fair maid. He doesn't sail here.

He's drowned in the deep, I fear."



She wrung her hands and tore her hair,

Like a pretty fair maid in days despair;

Then she went and wrote a song,

She wrote it true, she wrote it long

And every line she shed a tear

Crying: "Oh, my dear, my dear,

My dearest dear!

He's drowned in the deep I fear."



Four young lawyers came riding by-

Saw her hanging on a limb so high.

They drew a knife and cut her down,

And on her breast there words they found:

"Go dig my grave both wide and deep.

Place a marble stone at my head and feet;

And across my breast place a turtle-dove

To show to the world that I died for love,

To show to the world that I died for love.