Hi,

I'm trying to determine the words to My Boy Willy, as sung by the Irish Rovers. It's a song of the Butcher Boy family, with more or less that melody, and I can write out most of the text, but I'm stuck on a few words, and probably misheard a few, which is why I ask for help.

I make it:

It was early, early* in the spring
When my love Willy went to serve the king.
And all that vexed him or grieved his mind
Was the leavin' of his dear girl behind.

Oh, father dear, built me a boat
That on the ocean I might float.
And view** the ships, as they pass me by,
And to inquire, of my sailor boy.

She had not sailed long in the deed(?)
When a fine ships crew, she changed to meet
And of the captain she inquired to (?)
Does my love Willy sail on board with you?

What sort of lad, is your Willy fair?
What sort of clothes does your Willy wear?
He wears a coat of royal blue,
and you'll easily know him, for his heart is true.

If that's your Willy, he is not here,
I doubt he's drowned, as we do fear
't was (garble***) as we passed by
It was there we lost a fine sailor boy.

****Oh, dig my grave long, wide, and deep.
Put a marble stone at my head and feet,
And in the middle, a turtle dove,
So the whole world knows, that I die(d) for love.


* Judging from the male version - "Early in the spring" - the reason for that double "early" is that it originally was "It be-ing early".
** I'm not sure mere "view"ing will serve her purpose. If that's indeed the word, I think I'd rather use "hail".
*** Sounded something like "at yonder green night lang", as I recall.
**** This verse appears to run in the family.

Anyone who can help out?
                                                          Mysha