From Elizabeth Cronin of Co Cork, Ireland.
Jim Carroll

ON BOARD THE KANGAROO
At first 1 was a waiter-man that lived at home at ease,
But now I am a mariner that ploughs the angry seas.
I always liked sea-faring life and bid my love adieu;
I shipped as steward and cook, my boys, on board the Kangaroo.

Chorus
Oh! I never thought she would prove false, or either prove untrue,
As we sailed away through Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo.

'Oh, think of me! Oh, think of me!', she mournfully did say,
'When you are in a foreign land and I am far away.
Now take this lucky thrupenny bit, 'twill make you bear in mind
The loving, trusting, faithful heart you've left in tears behind'.

'Cheer up! Cheer up! my own true love, don't weep so bitterly!'
She sobbed, she sighed, she choked, she cried, and could not say goodbye.
'As I won't be gone so very long, 'tis but a month or two;
And when I will return again, of course I'll marry you'.

Our vessel she was homeward-bound from many a foreign shore,
And many a foreign present unto my love I bore.
I brought tortoises from Tenerife and toys from Timbucktoo;
A China rat, a Bengal cat, and a Bombay cockatoo.

Paid off I sought her dwelling in a suburb of the town,
Where an ancient dame upon the line was hanging out her gown.
'Where is my love?' — 'She's married, sir, about six months ago,
To a smart young man that drives the van for Chaplin, Son & Co.'.

Here's a health to dreams of married life, to soap, to suds and blue,
Heart's true lovers, patent starch, and washing-soda too.
I'll go unto some distant shore, no longer can I stay,
And on some China Hottentot I'll throw myself away.

My love she's not a foolish girl, her age it is two score;
My love she's not a spinster, she's been married twice before.
They cannot say it was her wealth that stole my heart away:
She's a starcher and a laundress for eighteen pence a day.