Although this song has the same repeated phrase "banks of sweet Dundee" it is really a different song. The Bodleian collection has several versions. The one below is a composite; I have compared them all and selected the most felicitous phrases, but I have preserved most of the alternates in the footnotes.


BETSY OF DUNDEE.

1. You sailors of this nation, I pray you give attention.
It is no false invention, as plainly you may see:
My parents in this nation they live by cultivation
In rural habitation near the banks of sweet Dundee.

2. When young, I took the ocean for riches and promotion,
All with an inclination strange countries for to see;
But the wars they being over, I was discharged at Dover,
And then returned a rover to the banks of sweet Dundee.

3. To rambling I inclined. My parents seldom minded,
For they by love were blinded and partial unto me.
Fair maidens always courting, from nymph to nymph resorting,
My time I spent in sporting on the banks of sweet Dundee.

4. Till at length a lovely maiden my youthful heart invaded.
Beneath the fragrant shade, I espied this lovely she.
Without deliberation, I asked her habitation.
In accents sweet she answered, "I am Betsy of Dundee."

5. In secret long we courted while the sweet birds round us sported.
The valleys were our chambers; we found them nest secure.
Her parents did divide me and oftentimes did chide me,
And never could abide me because that I was poor.

6. Whilst we our case lamented, a scheme she soon invented,
And harmlessly consented with me to run away.
Her father coming by us, beneath the shade did spy us,
And sternly he drew nigh us on the banks of sweet Dundee.

7. He caught this lovely fair by the ringlets of her hair.
I fell in deep despair. It set my heart aflame.
He said, "I have information you are going to leave this nation,
And drive to desolation our character and fame."

8. She said, "If he had gold, we would never be controlled,
But you would us both enfold with the greatest harmony.
If it's your determination to cause a separation,
In spite of all this nation, with him I'll leave Dundee."

9. He said, "If you're inclined, with an honest upright mind,
This night you shall be joined, so come home along with me."
What pleasure did surround me, and nuptial bands soon crowned me,
And Hymen's chains soon bound me to sweet Betsy of Dundee.

VARIATIONS:
Verse 1, line 1: sailors/lovers
Verse 1, line 3: in/of - they/now - by/in/
Verse 1, line 4: near/on

Verse 2, line 1: riches/honor
Verse 2, line 3: they/now
Verse 2, line 4: And then I/I am now/And now I'm – to/on

Verse 3, line 1: rambling/ramble – seldom/never
Verse 3, line 2: were/was
Verse 3, line 3: maidens/maids I – courting/courted – resorting/resorted
Verse 3, line 4: sporting/courting

Verse 4, line 1: maiden/maid – invaded/betrayed
Verse 4, line 2: I espied/where I spied - this/that/the
Verse 4, line 4: answered, I am/answered me, I'm

Verse 5, line 1: long/love – courted/courting - while/whilst – sweet/small - us sported/were sporting
Verse 5, line 2: were our chambers/was so charming/were so charming – nest/most
Verse 5, line 3: me/us- me/us

Verse 6, line 1: we/thus/this
Verse 6, line 3: did spy/he spied
Verse 6, line 4: sternly he drew nigh us/strangely did he use us - banks of sweet Dundee/sweet banks of the Tay

Verse 7, line 1: caught/seized – lovely/charming – her/the
Verse 7, line 2: I/She - in deep/into – aflame/on flame/inflamed/in flames.
Verse 7, line 4: desolation/desperation – our/your

Verse 8, line 1: said/says – he/I/she – we/she/he - would never/ne'er should
Verse 8, line 2: would/will
Verse 8, line 3: to cause/all for
Verse 8, line 4: this nation/relations

Verse 9, line 1: said/says - - with an honest/all with an
Verse 9, line 3: pleasure/glory – bands/banks - soon crowned/did crown
Verse 9, line 4: Hymen's/Hyment's