Now, when that I was married and in my marriage bed
There came a bold sea captain and he stood at my bedhead
Saying, "Arise, arise young wedded man and come along with me
To the lowlands of Baghdad for to fight the enemy"

Now Baghdad is a lovely land where every man's a king
It is a place of residence for soldiers to remain
There the oilfields are plentiful, the poppies sprout from every field
And if the streets are paved with gold then it must be the place for me

Said the mother to her daughter, leave off your sore lament
Is there ne'r a man in New Orleans that will be your heart's content
There are men enough in New Orleans but alas there are none for me
Since high winds and stormy seas have parted my love and me

I'll wear no shoes all on my feet, no combs all in my hair
I'll wear no handkerchief around my neck for to shade my beauty fair
And neither will I marry until the day I die
Since high winds and stormy seas have parted my love and I