THE AMERICAN STRANGER
[Ord, Bothy Ballads (1930), 127]

I'm a stranger in this country. From America I came.
There is no one here knows me, nor can tell my name.
I came over to this country for to wander for a while,
Far, far from my darling, for many a lang mile.

I have travelled this country both early and late.
My hardships have been many. My trials have been great.
I courted a fair lassie, but she has me disowned.
Oft times she has denied me, but I'll try her again.

It is very well known that her parents were rich.
She was not my equal, which grieved me very much.
But though father and mother and all should say so,
Yet through this wide world with my darling I'll go.

Some say that I am rakish. some say that I am wild,
And some say I am guilty fair maids to beguile.
But I'll prove them all liars if she'll go along with me
To the plains of America, my darling to be.

The sun that's in the firmament may give no more light,
And the stars in the elements may fall in one night.
The rocks may rend asunder, and the mountains may move,
Before that I prove false to the girl that I love.

The ship that's on the salt sea she may sail without sails,
And the smallest of fishes turn into big whales.
In the middle of the ocean there may grow a myrtle tree,
Before that I prove false to the girl that loves me.

Give my compliments to Nancy, who lives on yon shore,
And likewise to Betsy. She's the girl I adore.
Give my kind love to Susan. She's my whole heart's delight.
I could roll her in my arms in a cold winter's night.

Now this couple they've got married, to America set sail.
May the heavens go with them and a brisk and pleasant gale!
And when they do get landed they may dance and they may sing.
On the plains of America they're serving the king.

[Differences (apart from a word or 2) in another text—from Gavin Greig, Folk-Song of the North-East, article #LIX:]

Verses 2 & 3 omitted.

Verse 7 has different names: Give my love to my Peggy,
Although she is poor.
Likewise to pretty Sally...Likewise to my Susan...

2 verses inserted:

And for my old mother whom I love so dear,
May the heavens protect her though I be not near.
May the heavens protect her by land or by sea,
For I'll aye, aye remember what she's done for me.

The time it is coming when I must away.
I'll bid you adieu for many a long day.
Many hearts will be merry when mine's very sad,
When I think on the pleasures me and my love's had.

Last stanza:

Now this couple they've got married, and away they've set sail.
May all good attend them, with a fine pleasing gale.
And when they are landed, they'll dance and they'll sing,
On the plains of America, a-serving their king.

Greig says it's also well known in the north of England. Ord footnotes: "From the reading of the sixth verse one would infer that this song was written prior to the days of the steamship, and from the last verse it would appear that it was at least written before the American war of Independence."

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 21-May-02.