Historical Folk Lyrics
"Arbour Town"

In Arbour town this damsel did dwell,
She courted a sailor you all know quite well,
He promised to marry her if he would return,
But mark what misfortune this young damsel found.

He had not been sailing long across this sea
Before deep heavy clouds rose to darken the sky,
When the winds they did rise and the billows did roar,
Caused many a poor sailor to lie on the lee shore.

Some they had sweethearts and more they had wives.
This unfortunate young man he swum for his life,
And out of the number he chanced for to be one,
He lost his sweet life in the watery tomb.

When the sad news came to Arbour town,
This beautiful damsel her head she hung down,
Saying: There's adieu to all sorrow since my joys they are fled,
There's a funeral instead of a marriage bed.

As she was a-walking alone on the strand,
A-tearing her hair and wringing her hands,
Saying: Cry, cruel waves, wash my true love on shore,
That I may behold his fond features once more.

As she was a-walking alone on the strand,
When first she saw Jimmie amazed she did stand,
When first she saw Jimmie amazed she did stand,
She knew it was her true love by the mark on his hand.

She kissed him and hugged him ten thousand times o'er,
Saying: Now I have got you once more on the shore,
And now I'm quite willing to lie by his side,
And a few moments after this fair one she died.

In Arbour churchyard they buried them there,
And down on the headstone large letters wrote fair:
Come all constant lovers as ye do pass by
And pray you take warning how this young couple died.