I Drew My Ship into the Harbour / I Will Put My Ship in Order

I drew my ship into the harbour,
I drew it up where my true love lay.
I drew it close by into her window
To listen what my love did say.

I drew my ship into the harbour,
I drew her up where my true love lay.
I drew up close by to the window
To listen what my love did say.

“Who's there that knocks loud at my window?
Who knocks so loud and would come in?”
“It is your true love who loves you dearly,
Then rise, dear love, and let him in.”

“Oh, who is it comes to my window
That knocks so loud and wants to come in?”
“It is your true love that loves you dearly,
So rise, dear girl, and let him in.”

Then slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly, slowly came she down,
But before she got her door unlocked
Her true love had both come and gone.

Oh slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly, slowly came she down,
But before she got the door unlocked
Her true love had both come and gone.

“Come back, come back, my own true lover,
Come back, my own one and ease my pain,
Your voice I heard not, your face I saw not,
Oh John, my heart will break in two [twain?].”

He's brisk and braw, he's far away,
He's far beyond yon raging main,
Where fishers dancing and bright eyes glancing
Have made him quite forget his ain.

𝄆 He's brisk and braw, lads, he's far away, lads,
He's far beyond the raging main,
Where fishers dancing and dark eyes glancing
Have made him quite forget his own [ain?]. 𝄇

(repeat first verse)

Oh I will put my ship in order
And I will set it to the sea;
And I will sail to yonder harbour
To see if my love minds on me.

Oh, I will set my ship in order,
I will sail her on the sea;
I’ll go far over yonder border
To see if my love minds on me.

I drew my ship into the harbour,
I drew her up where my true love lay.
And I did listen all at the window
To hear what my love did say.

And he sailed East, and he sailed West,
He sailed far, far, seeking land,
Until he cam’ to his true love’s window
And he knocked loud and would be in.

“Who's there, who's there at my bedroom window?
Who raps so loud and would be in?”
“Oh, it is I, your own true lover,
I pray you rise, love, and let me in.”

“Oh, who is that at my bedroom window
Who knocks so loud and would be in?”
“‘Tis I, ‘Tis I, your ain true lover
and I am drenched untae my skin.”

“So go and go, and ask your faither
See if he’ll let you marry me;
And if he says no, come back and tell me
And it’s the last time I’ll trouble thee.”

“My father’s in his chamber writing,
Setting down his merchandise;
And in his hand he holds a letter
And it speaks much in your dispraise.

“My mother’s in her chamber sleeping
And words of love she will not hear;
So you may go and court another
And whisper softly in her ear.”

And slowly, slowly rose she up
And slowly, slowly came she down,
But when she had the door unlocked
Her true love had both been and gone.

Then she arose put on her clothing,
It was to let her true love in;
But e’er she had the door unlockit
His ship was sailing on the main.

“Come back, come back, my own true lover,
Come back, come back, all to my side.
I never grieved you nor yet deceived you
And I will surely be your bride.”

“Come back, come back, my ain dear Johnnie,
Come back, come back, and marry me.”
“How can I come back and marry you, love?
Oor ship is sailing on the sea.”

“The fish will fly, love, the seas will dry, love,
The rocks will melter with the sun,
And labouring men will forget their labour,
Before that I return again.”

“The fish may fly, and the seas run dry,
The rocks may melt doon wi’ the sun,
And the working man may forget his labour
Before that my love returns again.”

Ripest apples are soonest rotten,
Hottest love soonest grow cold.
𝄆 Young man's words are soon forgotten;
Come all young girls, don't you be so bold. 𝄇

She’s turned herself right roun’ aboutm
She’s flung herself intae the sea;
“Farweel for aye, my ain dear Johnnie
Ye’ll ne’er hae tae come back to me.”