Hi,

More from The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection - Volume 4; edited by Patrick N. Shuldham-Shaw, ‎Emily B. Lyle - 1981. Collected in North Scotland in early 1900s by Gavin Greig (1856–1914), and the minister James Bruce Duncan 1848-1917). It should be noted that this version is likely much older than my estimated date of 1909 (she died in 1910 at her son's home), since she learned most of her ballads at home from her parents and a family washerwoman, as well as local singers such as George Innes.

C. I WILL SET MY SHIP IN ORDER- Sung by Mrs. Margaret Gillespie of Glasgow, Scotland, c. 1909. Born in 1841 and died in 1910 in Tranvaal. Daughter of William Duncan, collected by James B. Duncan, her brother.

1. I will set my ship in order,
An' I will put her to the sea,
An' I'll sail over to yonder border
To see gin my love will fancy me.

2. We sail-ed east an' we sail-ed west,
We sail-ed up, so did we down,
Through France and Flanders we spent no leisure,
Until we sail-ed the whole world 'round.

3. We sail-ed east an' we sail-ed west,
We sail-ed up, so did we down,
Until we sail-ed to yonder harbour,
The harbour where my love was in.

4. I walk-ed east, I walk-ed west,
I walk-ed up, so did I down,
Until I came to my love's bower window,
When I knocked sae loudly and wid[1] be in.

5. O who is that at my bower window,
That knocks so loud and wid[1] be in?
Tis I, tis I, your true love Johnnie,
O rise, O rise an' let me in.

6. I have no lovers without, she said
And as few have I within,
Unless it be my true love Johnnie,
An' sure am I that ye're nae him.

7. Ye may go and ask yere mother,
If she be willing ye my bride be,
If she denies me come back an' tell me,
It'll be the last time I'll visit thee.

8. My mother's in her bedroom chamber,
Combing down her yellow hair;
But she says ye may go an' ask another
And whisper softly in her ear.

9. Ye may go and ask yere father,
If he be willing ye my bride be,
If he denies me come back an' tell me,
It'll be the last time I'll visit thee.

10. My father's in his office writing,
Settling up his merchandise;
In his right hand he holds a letter,
And it speaks greatly to your dispraise.

11. To my dispraise, that is not true love,
To my dishonour, that cannot be,
For I never slighted you nor yet disowned you,
Until this night you've slighted me.

12 If ye be Johnie, my true love Johnie,
I will rise an' let you in,
But e'er she got unto the window
He was bound for his ship again.

13. Up she rose put on her clothes,
It was to let her true love in,
But fore[2] she had the door unlocked
His ship was sailing on the main.

14. Come back, come back, my true love Johnie,
Come back, come back an' I'll let you in
The ship is sailing an' the wind is blowing,
An' how can I return again?

15. Come back, come back, my true love Johnie,
Come back, come back I'll be your bride
The ship is sailing an' the wind is blowing,
An' floating swiftly wi' the tide.

16. Tho all the hills were pens and paper
An' all the seas were perfect ink
Tho the hills of Goram were ink holder
To my love's praise I never would write.

17. The fish may fly, an' the seas gang dry,
And the rocks they may melt wi' the sund[2],
And husbandmen may give over labour
That shall a' be, fore[3] I return.

1. would
2. sand
3. before; has "or"