William of The Man-Of-War

William of the Man-of-War

Printed and Sold by J. Wrigley, Jun—-

One winter’s day as I was walking.
Dark and cloudy was the sky,
A smart and gay young pair were talking,
A tear stood trembling in each eye.
The one appeared a virtuous maiden,
The other was a gallant Tar;
Compell’d he was, by fate and fortune,
To sail on board of a man-of-war.
Said this young sailor, I must leave you,
Our sovereign’s orders I must obey;
I never intended to deceive you–
Dearest Fanny, shun dismay.
I’m going to cross the raging ocean,
And from my Fanny ramble far;
Should I come home with cash in store,
I’d bid farewell to the man-of-war.
Young man, you know my situation;
Do not leave me here behind;
I’ll bid adieu to each relation,–
Be a sailor true and kind.
If sick or in sorrow, I will follow,
To heal your wounds, when you are far;
And hear, in battle, cannons’ rattle–
With you on board of a man-of-war.
Suppose your parents you offended,
And I should in the battle fall;
Then when your sailor’s life was ended,
Alas! no friend you’d have at all.
Because if you are such a ranger,
You from all friends must ramble far;
So be a stranger to each danger,
Nor sail with me on board of a man-of-war
She wept, and said, before we are parted,
Take advice from one that’s true:
If here you leave me, broken-hearted,
I never more your face can view.
While, William dear, you are on the ocean,
I will think upon my gallant tar;
My heart, with fear, is still in motion,
Till you return from the man-of-war.
Now since my dear, you seem undaunted,
To Fanny I’ll ne’er bid adieu;
I’ll ask the favour, if ’tis granted,
Before I go, to marry you.
I’ll guard my ranger through all danger,
And from all foes, when we are far.
So God protect young faithful Fanny,
With William, in the man-of-war.

*Transcriber’s note: Dugaw’s catalogue contains multiple variants of this ballad; this is the first of the variants listed. To review other variants of this ballad, please consult the Dugaw catalogue.

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BBO Roud Number: V1176