Learned in Brisbane, Australia ca 1944 from a school songbook of traditional UK songs.
One Friday morning when we set sail on our ship not far from land. 'twas there we espied a fair pretty maid With a comb and a glass in her hand, her hand, her hand, With a comb and a glass in her hand.
Chorus: And the raging seas did roar-or-oar (sung up the octave) And the stormy wynds did blow And we jolly sailorboys were up, were up aloft And the landlubbers lying down below, below, below And the landlubbers lying down below.
Then upspake the captain of our gallant ship And an upright man was he, I have married a wife in fair Bristol town, And tonight she a widow will be, will be, will be And tonight she a widow will be.
Then uspake the mate of our gallant ship And fair spoken man was he I have left me a sweetheart in fair London town, And tonight she will weep, will weep for me, for me for me And tonight she will weep, will weep for me.
And then upspake the little cabin boy And very brave boy was he, I've a mother and father in fair Boston town, And tonight they will wait, will wait for me, for me, for me And tonight they will wait, will wait for me.
Then three times round went our gallant ship, And three times round went she, And three times round went our gallant ship As she sank to the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea And she sank to the bottom of the sea.