I Will Set My Ship In Order

Oh I will set my ship in order

I will sail her on the sea

I'll go far over yonder border

To see if my love minds on me

And he sailed east and he sailed west

He sailed far, far seeking land

Until he came to his true love's window

And he knocked loud and would be in

"Oh who is that at my bedroom window?

Who knocks so loud and would be in?"

"'Tis I, 'tis I, your ain true lover

And I am drenched untae my skin

So go and go and ask your faither

And see if he'll let you marry me

If he says no, come back and tell me

And it's the last time I'll trouble thee"

"My father's in his chamber writing

Setting down his merchandise

And in his hand he holds a letter

And it speaks much in your dispraise

My mother's in her chamber sleeping

And words of love she will not hear

So you may go and court another

And whisper softly in her ear"

Then she arose, put on her clothing

It was to let her true love in

But e're she had the door unlockit

His ship was sailing on the main

"Come back, come back, my ain dear Johnny

Come back, come back and marry me"

"How can I come back and marry you, love?

Our ship is sailing on the sea"

The fish may fly, and the seas run dry

The rocks may melt doon wi' the sun

And the working man may forget his labor

Before that my love returns again

She's turned herself right roun' about

She's flung herself intae the sea

Farewell for aye, my ain dear Johnny

Ye'll ne'er hae tae come back to me