Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

My Sailor Laddie

WHERE roll thy billows, O Champlain,

Thy foaming billows swelling,

That proudly lash the listening plain,

A tale of glory telling;

Beneath thy sacred bosom low,

In weeds both tall and shady,

The pride of all Macdonough’s crew,

There sleeps my sailor laddie.

Oft had he met the battle’s fray,

With Hull and brave Decatur;

And oft had victory mark’d his way,

Midst scenes of death and slaughter,

But now that manly spirit’s fled

To regions dark and shady!

Deep in a watery tomb is laid

My valiant sailor laddie!

How oft when he return’d from far,

His plighted faith renewing,

Beguiled my heart of every care,

And every doubt subduing.

And as he sigh’d each tender vow,

Beneath the willows shady;

With laurels green I deck’d the brow

Of my young sailor laddie.

At length arrived the fatal day,

And loud the cannons rattle!

Though victory crown’d the doubtful fray,

He fell amidst the battle!

With anxious heart for his dear sake,

I left my mam and daddy,

And hied to seek him on the lake,

My much loved sailor laddie.

With eager haste on board I flew,

To cheer my dying lover!

But ah! my disappointed woe,

My Henry’s gone forever.

For O, they plunged him in the deep,

With hands both rude and bloody,

And left a wretched maid to weep

Her dear lost sailor laddie!