When I was young and in my prime
To sea I had to rove (or roam).
My friends together did combine
To part me from my love (or home).
To Belfast town they did me bring
Without any more delay.
And aboard of the 'Union' my passage paid,
Bound for America.

The song was collected in 1896 by Dr John Clague from Tom Kermode of Bradda, known as the Bhoy Doal, who was blinded by smallpox at age five, but whose career was working on fishing boats.

Dan Milner identified the song as a version of 'The Last Voyage of the Union', which was wrecked off Rathlin Island not long after setting sail from Belfast.

Dan recorded the song on an album, but made his own tune for it. It struck me recently, after a mere three or so years, that I could post the tune as collected in 1896 by Clague here by using the Mudcat midi/text file routine.

Hence -