Bay of Biscay

Alternate titles
"Willie-O"
"Willie the Waterboy"

Roud# 22567

Esrliest printed version titled "Willy O!",
Bodleian Library Broadside Ballad Collections:
a) Harding B 19(86)
b) 2806 c.15(136)
Printer/Publisher: Birmingham, W. (Dublin)
Date: c.1867


Come all you young maidens that's fair and handsome,
While in vain your tears do flow.
For my love I'm daily weeping
He is my charming Willy O.

My love he's gone on board of the Tender,
Where to find him I do not know,
May kind Providence still protect him,
And send me back my Willy O.

Had I the gold of the West Indies,
Or all the silver in Mexico,
I would give it all to the Queen of England,
If she would grant me my Willy O.

As Mary lay sleeping, her true love came creeping
To her bed-chamber door so slow,
Saying rise up, lovely Mary,
For I am your own true Willy O.

Mary rose up and put on her clothes,
To her chamber door did go,
It's there she found her own true love
And his face as white as snow.

Willy dear where is the blushes
That you had some time ago.
O Mary dear the clay has changed them,
For I am the ghost of your Willy O.

Those seven long years I am daily writing
To the Bay of Biscay O,
But cruel death has sent me no answer,
From my charming Willy O.

They spent the night in deep discoursing
Concerning their courtship sometime ago.
They kissed, shook hands with sorrowful parting,
Just as the cocks began to crow.

Although my body lies in the West Indies
My ghost shall guard you to and fro.
So farewell Jewel since we are for parting
Since I'm no more your Willy O.

When she saw him disappearing,
Down her cheeks the tears did flow.
Mary dear, sweetheart and darling,
Weep no more for your Willy O.


"Willy O!" possibly a re-writing of Child Ballad #77 (Sweet William's Ghost)

See also this thread
Willy O!