Just As the Tide Was Flowing

One morning in the month of May
When all the birds were singing,
I saw a lovely lady stray
Across the fields at break of day,
And softly sang her roundelay.

Chorus:

The tide flows in, the tide flows out,
Twice everyday returning

A sailor's wife at home must bide,
She halted heavily, she sighed,
“He parted from poor me, a bride,
Just as the tide was a-flowing.”

(2x chorus)
 

One morning in the month of June
Down by a rolling river,
There a jolly sailor chanced to stray,
Where he beheld some lover.
Her cheeks were red; her eyes were brown;
Her hair in wrinkles were hanging down;
And her lovely brow without a frown,
Just as the tide was a-flowing.

One morning in the month of June
Down by a rolling river,
There a jolly sailor he chanced to stray,
Where he beheld some lover.
Her cheeks were red; her eyes were brown;
And her hair in wrinkles was hanging down;
And her lovely brow without a frown,
Just as the tide was a-flowing.

“My pretty maid,” to her he said,
“How come you here so early?
My heart by you it is betrayed
And I might love you dearly.
For I am a sailor come from sea,
If you will accept of my company
For to walk and view the fishes play,
Just as the tide was flowing.”

“Good morn to you, my pretty fair maid,
How came you here so early?
My heart by you it is betray'd
And I could might you dearly.
For I am a sailor come from sea,
And if you'll accept of me company
For to walk and watch the fishes play,
Just as the tide was a-flowing?”

No more did say, but on her way
They both did gang together;
The small birds sang and the lambs did play,
How pleasant was the weather.
And they being weary both sat down
Beneath a tree with the branches around;
And what they said shall never be known
Just as the tide was a-flowing.

No more they did say, but on her way
They both did go together;
The small birds sang and the lambs did play,
How pleasant was the weather.
Then feeling weary they both sat down
All beneath a tree with the branches around;
And what was said shall never be known
Just as the tide was a-flowing.

And upon the grass she then did roll
And her colour it kept changing.
And this pretty maid called out, “Alas!
Don’t let your mind be ranging.”
And she gave him twenty pounds in store,
Saying, “Meet me when you will, there's more.
For a jolly sailor I adore
Just as the tide was flowing.”

Then on the grass this young girl did roll
And her colour it kept changing.
And this pretty maid called out, “Alas!
Don’t let your mind be ranging.”
Then she gave him twenty pound in store,
Saying, “Meet me when you will have more.
For a jolly sailor I adore
Just as the tide was flowing.”

So they kissed, shook hands and then did part;
Jackie Tar drank rum and brandy.
“And to keep my shipmates in good cheer
The lady's gold came handy.
And with some other young girl you’ll go
To the public bar where the brandy flow.
Give me the lad that will do so
Just as the tide was a-flowing.”

So they kissed, shook hands and then did part;
Jack Tar drank rum and brandy.
“And to keep me shipmates in good cheer
That lady's gold came handy.
And with some other young girl you’ll go
To the public bar where the brandy flow.
Give me the lad that will do so
Just as the tide was a-flowing.”

One morning in the month of May,
Down by a rolling river,
Oh, a jolly sailor, I did stray,
And I beheld some lover.
She carelessly along did stray,
A-viewing of the daisies gay;
And she sweetly sang a roundelay,
Just as the tide was a-flowing.

One morning in the month of June,
Down by a rolling river,
There a jolly sailor chanced to stray,
There he beheld some lover.
Her cheeks were red, her eyes were brown,
Her hair in ringlets hanging down;
Her lovely brow without a frown,
Just as the tide was flowing.

Oh, her dress it was as white as milk,
And jewels did adorn her.
And her shoes were of the crimson silk,
Just like some maid of honour.
Her cheeks were red, her eyes were brown,
Her hair in ringlets hanging down;
She'd a lovely brow without a frown,
Just as the tide was a-flowing.

I made a bow and said, “Fair maid,
How came you here so early?
My heart by you it is betray'd
And I could love you dearly.
I am a sailor come from sea,
Will you accept my company
To walk and view the fishes play,
Just as the tide is a-flowing?”

“My pretty maid,” to her he said,
“How come you here so early?
My heart by you it is betray'd
And I might love you dearly.
I am a sailor come from sea,
If you will accept my company
For to walk and view the fishes play,
Just as the tide was flowing.”

And no more we said, but on our way
We walked along together;
And the small birds sang and the lambs did play,
And pleasant was the weather.
When we were weary we sat down
Beneath a tree with the branches round;
And what was done shall ne'er be found
As long as the tide is a-flowing.

No more did stay, but on the way
They both did gang together;
The small birds sing, the lambs did play,
And pleasant was the weather.
They being weary both sat down
Beneath the trees with the branches round;
And what they said will never be known
Just as the tide was flowing.

And as she lay there on the grass
Her colour it was a-changing
And she cried out and said, “Alas,
Never let your mind be ranging.
Here's twenty pounds I have in store,
Well use it, when you will there's more.
Oh the jolly sailor I adore
Just as the tide is a-flowing.”

Upon the grass she then did roll,
Her colour it ran changing.
This pretty maid called out: “Alas!
Don’t let your mind be ranging.”
She gave him twenty pounds in store
Saying, “Meet me when you will there's more.
For a jolly sailor I adore
Just as the tide was flowing.”

We both shook hands and off did steer,
Jack Tar drinks rum and a brandy.
And to keep his shipmates in good cheer
The lady's gold is a-handy.
So along with another pretty maid I'll go
To a public house where the beer do flow,
Success to the maid that will do so
Just as the tide is a-flowing.”

So they kissed, shook hands and when they part
Jack Tar drank rum and brandy.
And to keep his shipmates in good cheer
The lady's gold came handy.
Then with some other young girl you’ll go
To the public bar where the brandy flows
Give me the lad that will do so
Just as the tide was flowing.