Young james he has gone to the sea
and he promised he'd come back for me
the people they say
he ran away with another
but true to his word he will be

CH
Oh and any day now when that ship comes in
we will walk hand in hand from the shore
the people will see when that ship it comes in
for then he will leave me no more

if false unto me then I'll rue
if my parents cruel tale it was true
and the one that I love best
above all the rest has another
well then I know not what I'd do

my wedding gown hangs by my bed
alongside the veil for my head
but if I learn
he'll not return I'll be broken
and over my poor heart they'll tread