G'day,
From the Penguin Book Of English Folk Songs, Ed Pellow's rendition of the tune of Fare Thee Well My Dearest Dear can be found here.

FARE THEE WELL, MY DEAREST DEAR
Sung by Mrs Verrall, Horsham, Sussex (R.V.W. 1904)

'Fare thee well, my dearest dear, fare thee well, adieu,
For I must go to sea for the sake of you.
Love, have a patient heart, for you must bear the smart,
Since you and I must part, my turtle dove.

'You'll have silver and bright gold, houses and land,
What more can you desire, love? Don't complain.
And jewels to your hand, and maids at your command,
But you must think of me when I am gone.'

'Your gold I'll count as dust when that you have fled,
Your absence proves me lost and strikes me dead.
And when you are from home, your servants I'll have none.
I'd rather live alone than in company.'

And so nimbly then she dressed all in man's attire,
For to go to sea was her heart's desire.
She cut her lovely hair, and no mistrust was there
That she a maiden were, all at the time.

To Venice we were bound with our hearts content,
No fear of ship being wrecked, away we went.
From London but one day, our ship was cast away,
Which caused our lives to lay in discontent.

Our ship was cast away, misfortune it did frown,
For I did swim to shore, but she was drowned.
Now she lies in the deep, in everlasting sleep,
Which causes me to weep for evermore.

Previous song: The False Bride.
Next Song: Gaol Song.

Cheers,
Alan

^^