My William sailed aboard the tanker
And where he is I do not know
For seven long years I have been waiting
Since he's crossed the Bay of Biscay - oh
One night his Mary lay asleeping
A knock came to her bedroom door
Saying arise, arise, my lovely Mary
It is your true love, William - oh
So Mary rose, put on her clothing
So swift she open'd up the door
And there she saw her true love standing
His cherry cheeks as white as snow.
"Oh William dear, where are your blushes,
Those blushes I knew some time ago?"
"Oh Mary dear, the clay has changed me
And I am the ghost of your William - oh."
"And Mary dear, the dawn is breaking,
The time has come for me to go.
And I must leave you broken-hearted
Since I've crossed the Bay of Biscay-oh."
And if I had all the gold and silver
And all the money in Mexico
I'd grant it to the King of Eireann
If he'd bring me back my William - oh
For my William sailed on board the tanker
And where he is, I do not know
For seven long years, I have been waiting
Since he's crossed the Bay of Biscay - oh.