It's of a jolly sailor
That's lately come from sea
He dressed himself in tarry clothes
His true love to go see
He dressed himself in tarry clothes
Just like a sailor's trade
To try the heart of Mary Ann
The cruel lowland maid
As Jimmy went a-walking
Down by the [Riley?] strand
Down by his lover's cottage
Where he spied his Mary Ann
She appeared to him like floral
All in a silk's arrayed
But the thorn was in the bosom of
The cruel lowland maid
"Good morning pretty Mary,
I'm glad to meet you here
But I fear your inclinations they're
No longer firm my dear
I'm a-fear your inclinations
They have turned some other way" -
"Oh begone from me" cried Mary-Ann
The cruel lowland maid
As Jimmy turned to leave her
The sailor said "Behold"
And from his trousers pockets
He pulled out a purse of gold
"Forgive me now" cried Mary-Ann
"For all that I have said,
You are welcome to my cottage with
Your lovely lowland maid"
"Remember cruel damsel
The last words that you said
Oh I can lie 'til morning in
Some farmers barn or shed
Now I can lie 'til morning in
Some farmers barn or shed"
And away he strayed from Mary-Ann
The cruel lowland maid
Straight away to another lover
This fair one she did go
"Have courage now dear Edmund
For with me you must go.
Have courage now dear Edmund
And do no me betray.
We will kill and rob the sailor boy
Before the break of day"
Over hills and lofty mountains
Through dales and swampy lands
They travelled with their lanterns
And their daggers in their hands
And with their lights and lanterens
To light them on their way
'Til they reached the fatefull stable where
The sailorboy he lay
Into his tender bosom
They plunched the dagger deep
They robbed him of his glittering gold
And left him there to sleep
Some shepherds herding of their flocks
Across the fields did stray
And they swore against the villain and
The cruel lowland maid
Oh now the couple is taken
And sentence to be hung
For the murdering of young Jimmy
Who was scarcely in his bloom
And as they swung high in the air
The people all did say
"For the murdering of the sailor hangs
The cruel lowland maid"