Father, father, come build me a boat That over the wide ocean I may go And every ship that I pass by There I'll inquire my sailor boy I hunt and sail about half an hour Before I met a bold man-o'-war Captain, captain, come tell me true Is my sweet William on board with you? No, kind lady, he is not here But he is drowned most great I fear The other night when the wind blew high That's when we lost your sailor boy I sat me down, I'll write a song I'll write it neat and I'll write it long In every verse I'll shed a tear In every line hold Willy dear