The Cowell collection has a field recording of John McCready, unaccompanied vocalist, recorded by Sidney Robertson Cowell at the Arizona Bar in Groveland, Tuolumne County, California on August 2, 1939:

KING WILLIAM WAS KING JAMES' SON

King William was King James' son.
From a royal race he sprung.
Upon his breast he wore a star,
And in his mouth a big cigar.

Go choose you east. Go choose you west.
Go choose the one that you love best.
If she's not here to take your part,
Choose another with all your heart.

Down on this carpet you must kneel,
As sure as the grass grows in the field.
Salute your bride and kiss her sweet,
And now you may rise upon your feet.

And now you're married. You must be good.
Hire a man to chop your wood.
Hire another to carry it in.
And now you may kiss your true love again.

[In the same collection, George Vinton Graham plays guitar and sings this version, recorded in San Jose, California on July 9, 1939.]

King William was King James' son.
And from the royal race he won.
Upon his breast, he wore a star
That points away to the compass spar.

Go choose your east. Go choose your west.
Go choose the one that you love best.
If she ain't here to take her part,
Choose another with all your heart.

Down on this carpet you must kneel,
As sure as the grass goes in the field.
Salute your bride and kiss her sweet,
And then you can rise upon your feet.

[After some prompting, and a false start, he sings another version of verse 1:]

King William was King James' son.
And from the royal race he won.
He wore a star upon his breast,
Pointing to the east and west.