[Verse 1]
As I roved out one evening fair
It being the summertime to take the air
I spied a sailor and a lady gay
And I stood to listen
And I stood to listen to hear what they did say

[Verse 2]
He said fair lady, and why do you roam?
For day is spent and the night is on
She heaved a sigh while the tears did roll
For my dark-eyed sailor
For my dark-eyed sailor, so young, so stout and bold

[Verse 3]
Seven long years since he left this land
A ring he took from off his lily-white hand
One half the ring is still here with me
But the othеr's rolling
But the other's rolling at the bottom of thе sea

[Verse 4]
He said you may drive him out of your mind
Some other young man you will surely find
Love turns aside and soon cold has grown
Like the winter's morning
Like a winter's morning, the hills all white with snow
[Verse 5]
She said I'll never forsake my dear
Though we've been parted this many's a year
Genteel he was and a rake like you
To seduce a maiden
To seduce a maiden to slight the jacket blue

[Verse 6]
One half of the ring did young William show
She ran distracted in grief and woe
Saying William, William, I have gold in store
For my dark-eyed sailor
For my dark-eyed sailor has proved his overthrow

[Verse 7]
There is a cottage by yonder lea
This couple's married and does agree
So its maids be loyal while your love's at sea
For a cloudy morning
For a cloudy morning brings in a sunny day