I Have No One to Love Me (But the Sailor on the Deep Blue Sea) is th British Ballad "Sweet William" also know as Captain Tell me TRue and first recorded in 1924 by Gid Tanner as "Sailor Boy."

The ballad index gives the earliest date as before 1839 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(2298)).

The plot is as follows: A girl asks her father to build her a boat so that she may search for her lover. She describes the boy to a passing captain, who tells her he is drowned. She gives directions for her burial, then dies of grief or dashes her boat against the rocks.

Other names include: "The Pinery Boy" "The Sailor's Sweetheart" "My Boy Willie" "Papa, Build Me a Boat"

The Carters recorded their version in 1928:

I HAVE NO ONE TO LOVE ME (BUT THE SAILOR ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA)
Carter Family 1928

It was on last Sunday evening
Just about the hour of three
When my darling started to leave me
To sail on the deep blue sea
    [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

He promised to write a letter
He promised to write to me
And I haven't heard from my darling
Who sails on the deep blue sea
    [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

My mother is dead and buried
My papa's forsaken me
And I have no one to love me
But the sailor on the deep blue sea
    [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

Oh, Captain, can you tell me
Can you tell me where he may be
Oh, yes, my little maiden
He's drownded in the deep blue sea
    [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

Farewell to friends and relations
It's the last you'll see of me
I'm going to end my troubles
By drowning in the deep blue sea