Sweet William- Anon (Sussex) c.1908 Gardiner MS
[No informant, no source info (location Roud, note attached) from George Gardiner Manuscript Collection (GG/1/21/1453). RVWL notes follow.
R. Matteson 2017]
Source unknown. Could have been copied from broadside or W. Sussex Gazette.
Sweet William
Come father, father, build me I boat,
That on the ocean I may float,
And every King's ship that I pass by,
There I will inquire for my sailor boy."
Saying, "Jolly sailors, come tell me true,
Is my sweet William amongst your crew?"
They said, "Fair lady, he is not here
He is dead and drowned we do declare."
On yonder green islands as we passed by,
There we left your young sailor boy."
She wrung her hands and tore her hair
Like some young lady all in despair.
And against the rocks her boat did run,
She crying, What shall I do now my sailor's gone?"
She sat herself down and wrote a song,
She wrote it wide and she wrote it long.
And every line she shed a tear,
Saying, "Fare you well my sailor dear,
The reason why I lost my life
Because I was not a sailor's wife."
Dig my grave both long, wide and deep,
And strew it over with lilies sweet,
And on my tomb-stone a turtle dove,
To show the world I died for love.