I had a silver penny 

And an apricot tree 

And I said to the sailor 

On the white quay 



Sailor O sailor 

Will you bring me 

If I give you my penny 

And my apricot tree 



... fez from Algeria 

An Arab drum to beat 

A little gilt sword 

And a parakeet?



And he smiled and he kissed me 

As strong as death 

And I saw his red tongue 

And I felt his sweet breath 



You may keep your penny 

And your apricot tree 

And I'll bring your presents 

Back from sea.



O the ship dipped down 

On the rim of the sky 

And I waited while three 

Long summers went by 



Then one steel morning 

On the white quay 

I saw a grey ship 

Come in from sea 



Slowly she came 

Across the bay 

For her flashing rigging 

Was shot away 



All round her wake 

The seabirds cried 

And flew in and out 

Of the hole in her side 



Slowly she came 

In the path of the sun 

And I heard the sound 

Of a distant gun 



And a stranger came running 

Up to me 

From the deck of the ship 

And he said, said he 



O are you the boy 

Who would wait on the quay 

With the silver penny 

And the apricot tree? 



I've a plum-coloured fez 

And a drum for thee 

And a sword and a parakeet 

From over the sea.



O where is the sailor 

With bold red hair? 

And what is that volley 

On the bright air? 



O where are the other 

Girls and boys? 

And why have you brought me 

Children's toys?