Black-Eyed Susan

All in the Downs the fleet was moored,
    The streamers waving in the wind,
When black-eyed Susan came on board:
    "Oh! where shall I my true love find?
Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true,
If my sweet William sails among your crew?"

William, who, high upon the yard,
    Rock'd by the billows to and fro,
Soon as her well-known voice he heard,
    He sighed and cast his eyes below:
The cord glides swiftly through glowing hands,
And quick as lightning on the deck he stands.

So the sweet lark, high-poised in air,
    Shuts close his pinions to his breast
If chance his mate's shrill call he hear,
    And drops at once into her nest: -
The noblest captain in the British fleet
Might envy William's lips those kisses sweet.

"O Susan, Susan, lovely dear,
    My vows shall ever true remain!
Let me kiss off that falling tear, -
    We only part to meet again:
Change as ye list, ye winds, my heart shall be
The faithful compass that still points to thee!

"Believe not what the landsmen say,
    Who tempt, with doubts, thy constant mind:
They'll tell thee, sailors, when away,
    In every port a mistress find. -
Yes, yes! - believe them when they tell thee so
For thou art present whereso'er I go!

"If to fair India's coast we sail,
    Thine eyes are seen in diamonds bright;
Thy breath is Afric's spicy gale, -
    Thy skin is ivory so white:
Thus every beauteous object that I view
Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue.

"Though battle calls me from thy arms,
    Let not my pretty Susan mourn;
Though cannons roar, yet, free from harms,
    William shall to his dear return:
Love turns aside the balls that round me fly,
Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye."

The boatswain gives his dreadful word, -
    The sails their swelling bosoms spread;
No longer may she stay on board:
    They kiss: She sighs: He hangs his head.
Her lessening boat unwillingly rows to land:
"Adieu!" she cries, and waves her lily hand.