The Banks of Green Willow

It's of a sea captain
Who lived down by the seaside, oh,
And he's courted with a fair maid,
And he's got her with child.

Go and get your father's goodwill,
And get some of your mother's money,
And we'll sail right o'er the ocean
Along with young Johnny.

Oh she's got her father's goodwill,
And she's ta'en some of her mother's money,
And she's sailed right o'er the ocean
Along with young Johnny.

Now they had not been a-sailing
But six weeks or better,
Before she needed women
And she could not get any.

Oh hold your tongue you silly girl
Oh hold your tongue my honey
For we cannot get women
For love nor for money.

Now they had not been a sailing
But seven weeks or better,
With our sails high and the sea smooth,
But miles we made not any.

Oh there's fay folk in our gallant ship,
The captain he cried so boldly,
Oh there's fay folk in our gallant ship,
She will not sail for me.

So they've cast the black bullets,
And they've cursed twice six and forty,
And it's oh the black bullet
Fell on his dearest honey.

Oh he's tied a napkin all round her head
And he's tied it round so softly,
And he's thrown her right over,
Both she and her baby.

And it's seeing how she doth swim my boys,
And it's seeing how she doth swagger,
She will never leave off swimming
Till she come to some cover.

Oh she shall have a coffin
And the nails shall shine yellow
And me love she shall be buried
On the banks of green willow.