And its home boys home

Home I'd like to be home for awhile in me own country 

Where the oak and the ash and the bonny elm tree 

They're all a-growing green in me own country 



There was an apprentice lived in Strawberry lane 

Loved by her master and her mistress the same 

Until I a sailor lad came sailing o'er the sea 

And that was the beginnin of her misery 



The maid being innocent she thought it was no harm 

To go into bed for to keep his back warm 

He hugged her and he kissed her and he called her his dear 

Said "I wish me love this night it was as long as a year" 



Twas early next morning the sailor lad arose 

And into her apron he put handfuls of gold 

"Take this me dear for the mischief that I've done, 

Last night I may have left you with a daughter or a son" 



"And if you have a girl child when dance her on your knee 

And if you have a male child well call him after me 

And when he is a man you can dress him up in blue 

And he'll go skipping up the rigging like his daddy used to do" 



So come on all ye lassies, a warning take by me 

And never let a sailor lad and inch above your knee 

For once I met a sailor lad and he beguiled me 

And he left me with a pair of twins to dandle on me knee.