Tarry Trousers - Allison Crowe

As I roved out one fine Summer’s ev’ning

To view those flow’rs and to take the air

'T'was there I spied a tender mother

Talking to her daughter dear

Singing, «Daughter, o daughter, I’ll have you to marry

No longer to live a sweet single, life»

«O mother, o mother, I 'd rather to tarry

To be some brave young sailor’s wife»

«A sailor shy sits all for to wander

To some foreign count’r’y he’d go

They will cause you to sigh and to murmur

They will prove your overthrow»

«Or, if you could get me to wed with a farmer

To be your joy and heart’s delight

But give me the boy with the tarry, tarry trousers

To shine in my eyes like a diamond bright»

She hung her head on the top of her shoulders

Tears from her eyes like a fountain flowed

«I'll stay at home and be true-hearted

Whilst my love to the sea doth go»

«Hark, o hark, how the great guns are rattling

Big and small, they all make noise

My true love’s in the field of battle

So fight on, my gallant boys»