Once I was an apprentice bound
The salty seas for to sail around
I made a voyage and I made but one
When I fell in love with a young fair
one
Right han loo oh right han loo ri day
Me and my shipmates we did agree
Some of those fine girls for to go see
And amongst their race sure she was not
shy
Although I being but apprentice boy
I bought fine rings and I bought fine clothes
And I brought them home to that girl I
loved
And for to take them she was not shy
Although I being but apprentice boy
Straight to my Captain then I did
go
And I told him of all my grief and woe
That I loved a maid as I did my life
What would I do to make her my wife
Oh nonsense nonsense you foolish boy
For to love a maid whom you never enjoyed
For she has sweethearts roaming the sea
And she'll be married before your free
Oh now shes gone and left me you see
For another lad of a high degree
For another lad of a high degree
And she'll be married before I'm free
So now my young men I'll end my song
Don't you court those maidens when they're
too young
For they'll court you young and they'll
court you old
And then they'll leave you out in the
cold