Young James he has gone to the sea,
And he promised he'd come back to me,
The people they say he ran away with another
But true to his word he will be,
Oh and any day when that ship it 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
My parent's cruel tale it was true,
And the one I love best, above all the rest
Has another well then I'll not know what I'd do,
Oh and any day when that ship it 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.

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,
Oh and any day when that ship it 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.