Fair young maid standing by her window A brisk young sailor she chanced to see He looked on her as if he knew her Saying pretty girl, would you fancy me Seven years I have loved a sailor And seven more he's been gone to sea Seven more I will wait upon him Till he returns for to marry me Fair young maid, don't you be so foolish To waste your life upon just one man Perhaps he's dead, or perhaps he's married Maybe he's ill in a foreign land If he's sick, I will wish him better And if he's married, I will wish him joy If he's dead, I will wish him heaven For he once was my sailor boy Seven years, you have been so loyal And seven years, you have been so true I wish I was that brisk young sailor I'd not delay for to marry you Seven years I have loved a sailor And seven more he's been gone to sea Seven years makes an alteration In the course of love between you and me