[Verse 1]
Willie Taylor and his youthful lover
Full of mirth and loyalty
They were going to the church to be married
He was pressed and sent to sea
She dressed in sailor's clothing
Boarded on a man o' war
For to find the life it'd stolen
And the man she did adore

[Chorus]
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day

[Verse 2]
Said the captain to this fair maid
"What misfortune brought you here?"
"I'm in search of my true lover
Whom you pressed on the other year."
"If he is your true lover
He has proved to you untrue
He is married to another
Left you here alone to rue."
[Chorus]
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day

[Verse 3]
She got up the very next morning
Early as the break of day
There she spied her Willie Taylor
Walking along with his new fair maid
She drew out a brace of pistols
That she had at her command
There she shot her Willie Taylor
With his bride at his right hand
When the captain found her
And the deed that she had done
He made her a chief commander
Over a ship and a hundred men

[Chorus]
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day
[Instrumental Interlude]

[Verse 4]
Willie Taylor and his youthful lover
Full of mirth and loyalty
He is buried cold and lonesome
She still sails the open sea

[Chorus]
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-dum-dum
Dally-dilly-dum, dilly dum-dum-day