[Verse 1]
There was a little ship and she sailed on the sea
and the name of that ship was the Merry Golden Tree.
And she sailed on the lonely lonesome water,
sailed on the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 2]
She'd only been a sailin' for two weeks or three
when she was overtaken by the Turkish robbery.
As she sailed on the lonely lonesome water,
sailed on the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 3]
Then cried the captain a what shall we do,
the Turkish robbery will surely cut us in two.
As we sailed on the lonely lonesome water,
sailed on the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 4]
Then said a little sailor boy: what will you give to me
if I will go and sink for you the Turkish robbery?
As she sails on the lonely lonesome water,
sails on the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 5]
Two hundred golden dollars I will give unto thee
and my youngest pretty daughter for your wedded wife to be.
If you sink her in the lonely lonesome water,
sink her in the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 6]
It's down into the waves and away swam he,
he swam until he came to the Turkish robbery.
Where she sailed on the lonely lonesome water,
sailed on the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 7]
Then out of his pocket an auger he drew
and he bored nine holes for to let the water through.
And he sunk her in the lonely lonesome water,
sunk her in the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 8]
Some were playing cards and some were playing cheques
but before they cleared the boards they were in water to their necks.
They were sinking in the lonely lonesome water,
sinking in the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 9]
Some took off their hats and some took off their caps
and they tried for to stop up them awful water gaps.
But they sank in the lonely lonesome water,
sank in the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 10]
Then he turned upon his breast and back swam he,
he swam until he came to the merry golden tree.
Where she sailed on the lonely lonesome water, 
sailed on the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 11]
Oh, captain, oh, captain, won't you take me on board,
oh, captain, oh, captain, won't you be good as your word?
For I've sunk her in the lonely lonesome water,
sunk her in the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 12]
I will not take you in the captain he replied
for you shall never have my pretty daughter for your bride.
I'm sailin' on the lonely lonesome water,
sailin' on the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 13]
If wasn't for the love that I bare for your men
I'd do the same to you as I've just done unto them.
I'd sink you in the lonely lonesome water,
sink you in the lonesome sea.
 
[Verse 14]
Then he turned upon his back and down sank he,
fare ye well, fare ye well to the merry golden tree.
I'm sinking in the lonely lonesome water,
sinking in the lonesome sea.
 
[Outro]
I'm sinking in the lonely lonesome water,
sinkin' in the lonesome sea,
sinkin' in the lonesome sea,
sinkin' in the lonesome sea.