Hi,

Here's the first stanza of the Hicks/Harmon version (see Mrs. Harmon's version in an earlier post) as given by Jane Hicks Gentry granddaughter of Council Harmon former of Watauga County NC. It was collected by Sharp in 1919 and is the D version in EFSSA:

D. In Seaport Town. Sung by Mrs. JANE GENTRY at Hot Springs, N. C, Sept. 14, 1916
Heptatonic. Mode 4, a + b (mixolydian).

In Sea port town there was a merchant,
He had two sons and a daugh - ter dear;
Among them were a princy[1] boy,
Who was their daughter's dearest dear.

1. prentice= prentcy

Richie