Strophe:
C G
4Twas early in the month of spring
a G
When Willie went to serve the king
C G
The night was dark and the wind blew high
a G
I had to part for my Willie boy

Refrain:
F C G
Father, father make me a boat,
a e
He4s on the ocean, that4s all I know
F C G
I4ll watch the ships as they pass by,
F F G
I will enquire for my Willie boy

Strophe:
She sailed the sea for one day or two
When she met a captain and his jolly crew
Oh please dear captain, tell me true,
Did my Willie boy sail on board with you?

Refrain:
What colour of clothes did your Willie wear?
What colour of hair had your Willie dear?
He wore a jacket of royal blue,
His hair was black, and his heart was true

Strophe:
Indeed fair maiden, he is not here,
He4s on the deep that I greatly fear
At St Andrew4s Bay as we passed by
I lost nine more and your Willie boy

Refrain:
She shook her head and she tore her hair
She was a lady in deep despair
She crashed her boat against a rock
Crying How could I live when my love is lost?

Strophe:
She wrote a letter and she wrote it long,
And in this letter she wrote a song
At every line she shed a tear,
At every line she cried Willie dear!

Refrain:
Father, Father make me a grave
Dig it long and dig it deep,
And at my head lay a gentle dove
So the world will know that I died of love

1 Refrain: