Johnny Todd, undated

Johnny Todd he took a notion
For to cross the ocean wide.
And he left his true love behind him
Weeping by the Liverpool tide.

For a week she wept full sorely,
Tore her hair and wrung her hands,
Till she met with another sailor
Walking on the Liverpool sands.

“Why, fair maid, are you a-weeping,
For your Johnny gone to sea?
If you’ll wed with me tomorrow
I will kind and constant be.

“I will buy you sheets and blankets,
I’ll buy you a wedding ring.
You shall have a gilded cradle
For to rock your baby in.”

Johnny Todd came back from sailing,
Sailing o’er the ocean wide,
But he found that his fair and false one
Was another sailor’s bride.

All you men who go a-sailing
For to fight the foreign foe:
Don’t leave your love like Johnny,
Marry her before you go.