Here goes. Tune is "Bantry Girl's Lament" - or very near.


THE BALLAD OF JOHN WILLIAMS

When last I saw John Williams, a young man full of pride,
His lovely bride of just four days was standing by his side.
He smiled and took me by the hand, saying, "Boyo, can't you see,
I've seen the last of windswept bogs and bogs the last of me!
And the peelers and the landlords and the risings of the moon,
And if ever I return again, 'twill be too bloody soon."

CHORUS: Rich man, poor man, beggar man, wife
Sailed away into the night.
Where they'll wind up no-one knows.
Round and round the story goes.

He said, "I'll go and take my chance in far-off New York Town,
For they say there's lots of work there and a good man's not put down,
And with my lassie by my side, we'll build a better home,
And when the sea trip's over, lads, we never more will roam."
So we said farewell upon the quay. there was nothing left to do
But to pray for John and his lovely bride that their dreams might all come true. CHORUS

How I envied you, John Williams, and your lovely fair-haired bride
To be sailing on that mighty ship across the ocean wide,
For she's the finest liner that was ever built by man,
And they say there's naught can sink her, no not even God's own hand.
Man's pride can be his own downfall. That big ship sailed from home
And I thought I heard the banshee cry, and it chilled me to the bone.

CHORUS: Rich man, poor man, beggar man, wife
Sailed away into the night.
Where they'll wind up no-one knows.
Round and round the story goes.
Round and around the icebergs flow.