Seemingly the earliest modern text of the song was collected by James M. Carpenter in 1928 from William Fender of Barry Docks, South Wales. Fender "learned [it] in [the] foc's'le early eighties."

                   DARK AND ROLLING EYE
As I strolled out one evening to take my night's career,
I overtook a fine looking craft and after her I did steer.
I gave to her the signal: the signal she well knew,
She hauled around her main yard, and then she did lay to.

        She had a dark and rolling eye,
        To me fal-the-addle-diddle-di-do!
        She was a nice fair pretty young maid,
        But one of the rakish style.

She said, Young man, excuse me, for being out so late.
If my parents only knew of this, how sad would be my fate.
My father is a parson, and a pious good old man,
My sister she is (just G. T.) and I am the roving hand.    [sic

Now all you young seamen who gather your fortunes on the main,
Who have to stem the ocean amidst the wind and rain,
Beware of all these fiery old ships, for the day you'll surely rue.
It was with one I got my main yard sprung,
                         and my quarterblocks chafed right through.