Hi,

"The Roving Sailor" or "Come my Little Roving Sailor" is an Irish and also American variant related to the melody of "Oh No John" (Billy Taylor). It's known as a play-party or dance song. Here's one text from Sharp's EFSSA:

THE ROVING SAILOR Sung by Mr. Jacob Sowder at Callaway, Franklin Co., Va., August 14th 1918.

Come my little roving sailor,
Come my little roving bee,
Come my little roving sailor,
Roving sailor, will you marry me?

Madam, I have gold and silver,
Madam, I have house and land,
Madam, I have a world of pleasure,
All shall be at your command.

What cares I for your gold and silver?
What cares I for you house and land?
What cares I for a world of pleasure?
All I wants is a handsome man.

Madam, do not stand on beauty,
Beauty is a fading flower;
The best rose in yonders garden
Fade away in one half an hour.

First they'll hug you and then they'll kiss you,
Then they'll call you honey, my dear.
They'll tell you more in half an hour
Than you'll find true in seven long years.

If anyone knows any Irish or UK variants, please post them,

TY

Richie