Here's another version:

From A Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and Songs by W. H. [William Hugh] Logan (Edinburgh: William Pater, 1869.)


LAMENT FOR THE LOSS OF THE SHIP UNION.

In another copy of this piece which we have stumbled upon, the title is "J. G.'s Lament for the Loss of the Ship Union." Who J. G. was must, we fear, remain a matter of question, unless his "charming lovely Ann," to whom he betook himself, be still alive, and will disclose the secret. Instead of J. G. lamenting, he appears to have rather rejoiced that the expedition to America was prevented in favour of more halcyon days down "by the river Bann."
There is no imprint attached to either of the copies.

When I was young and in my prime,
The seas I had to rove;
My friends together did combine
To part me from my love.

To Belfast town they me conveyed,
And without more delay
In the Union my passage paid,
Bound for America.

'Twas on 14th day of May,
From Belfast we did set sail;
And down the Loch we bore away,
With a sweet and pleasant gale.

Now farewell to the shamrock shore,
And bonny banks of Bann,
And the sweet girl I do adore—
My charming lovely Ann.

For St. Andrews we were bound
Our course now for to steer;
From Erin's shore away we bore,
Thinking no danger near.

At ten o'clock on the third night
We got a dreadful shock:
Our ship she dashed with all her might
Against an unknown rock.

Then our hard fate for to lament
It's now we did begin;
In discontent some hours we spent
At South-east of Rathlane.

It's overboard our stores we threw,
Our cargo to the waves;
Numbers to the shrouds then flew,
Their precious lives to save.

The raging sea ran mountains high,
And dismal were the skies;
No light or land could we espy,
And horrid were the cries.

It's there we lay till break of day,—
Describe our state who can?
Then to myself these words did say,
"Adieu, sweet lovely Ann."

Soon as we got a glimpse of light,
Our boats we did employ;
Towards the shore we took our flight,
Our hearts did leap with joy.

Providence to us proved kind,—
His name we do adore;
There's not a soul was left behind,
We all got safe to shore.

Now, farewell to America,
And the rocks of Rathlane;
No more I'll from my country stray,
To cross the raging main.

I'll go and see my bonny
Down by the river Bann;
And all my days with her I'll pass,
My charming lovely Ann.