Found at the Orkney Singers web site:

Lyrics in a PDF

Notes on this song.


THE BRIDE'S LAMENT – Sydney Scott's version

Long years have gone since I was young.
The flowers they've bloomed and the birds they've sung.
A sailor lad and his lovely bride
Were weeping by the ocean tide.
    Tra la la la la la la la
    Tra la la la la la la la la
    A sailor lad and his lovely bride
    Were weeping by the ocean tide.

'Tis scarce six months since we were wed,
But oh-h how the time has fled,
But now we must part at the dawning of the day
When the good ship bears my love away.
    Tra la la la la la la la
    Tra la la la la la la la la
    But now we must part at the dawning of the day
    When the good ship bears my love away.

Long years have passed and he comes no more
To greet his bride on the lonely shore.
The ship went down in the howling of the storm
And the waves enclosed his lifeless form.
    Tra la la la la la la la
    Tra la la la la la la la la
    The ship went down in the howling of the storm
    And the waves enclosed his lifeless form.

Now he is free beneath the sea.
The mermaids they'll shed tears for me.
The mermaids down at the bottom of the sea
Are shedding their sad tears for me.
    Tra la la la la la la la
    Tra la la la la la la la la
    The mermaids down at the bottom of the sea
    Are shedding their sad tears for me.

I would that I were sleeping too
Beneath the waves of the ocean blue.
My soul to my God and my body to the sea
And dark cruel waves roll over me.
    Tra la la la la la la la
    Tra la la la la la la la la
    My soul to my God and my body to the sea
    And dark cruel waves roll over me,
    And dark cruel waves roll over me,
    And dark cruel waves roll over me.