[Verse 1: Brett Sparks]
"Well met, well met," said an old true love
"Well met, well met," said he
"I'm just returning from the salt, salt sea
And it's all for the love of thee."

[Verse 2: Rennie Sparks]
"Come in, come in, my own true love
And have a sit with me
It's been three-fourths of a long, long year
Since together we have been."

[Verse 3: Brett Sparks]
"I can't come in and I can't sit down
For I have but a moment's time
They say you're married to a house carpenter
And your heart will never be mine."

[Verse 4: Brett Sparks]
"That's all, I could have married the king's daughter dear
I'm sure she would have married me
But I have forsaken her crowns of gold
And it's all for the love of thee."

[Verse 5: Brett Sparks]
"So will you forsake your house carpenter
And come and go with me?
I'll take you where the grass grows green
On the banks of Iteree."
[Verse 6: Rennie Sparks]
She picked up her little babe
And kisses gave it three
Saying, "Stay right here, my darling little babe
And keep your papa company."

[Verse 7: Brett and Rennie Sparks]
They had not been on the ship two weeks
I'm sure it was not three
'Til his true love began to weep and mourn
And she wept most bitterly

[Verse 8: Brett Sparks]
Sez: "Are you weeping for my silver and my gold?
Sez: "Are you weeping for my store?
Or are you weeping for that house carpenter
Whose face you'll never see any more?"

[Verse 9: Rennie Sparks]
No, I'm not weeping for your silver or your gold
Or neither for your store
I'm weeping for my little babe
Whose face I'll never see no more

[Verse 10: Brett and Rennie Sparks]
Well, they hadn't been on board three weeks
I'm sure it was not four
Until there came a leak in the bottom of the ship
And it sunk for to rise no more