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The Dark-Eyed Sailor
The Dark-Eyed Sailor
[
Roud 265
/ Song Subject MAS526
; Master title: The Dark-Eyed Sailor
; Laws N35
; G/D 5:1037
; Henry H232
; Ballad Index LN35
; VWML CJS2/9/161
, RoudFS/S144136
; Bodleian
Roud 265
; GlosTrad
Roud 265
; Wiltshire
498
, 926
; DT DARKEYE2
; Mudcat 80849
, 149660
; trad.]
Sabine Baring-Gould: Songs of the West Alan Helsdon: Vaughan Williams in Norfolk Volume 2 John Howson: Songs Sung in Suffolk Mary and Nigel Hudleston: Songs of the Ridings Gale Huntington, Lani Herrmann, John Moulden: Sam Henry’s Songs of the People Maud Karpeles: Cecil Sharp’s Collection of English Folk Songs The Crystal Spring Frank Kidson: A Garland of English Folk-Songs William Henry Long: A Dictionary of the Isle of Wight Dialect Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger: Travellers’ Songs From England and Scotland John Morrish: The Folk Handbook Colm O Lochlainn: Irish Street Ballads John Ord: Bothy Songs and Ballads Roy Palmer: Everyman’s Book of English Country Songs Frank Purslow: The Constant Lovers Steve Roud, Eddie Upton, Malcolm Taylor: Still Growing Steve Roud, Julia Bishop: The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs
Jack Clark sang the well-known broken-token song The Dark-Eyed Sailor at The Eel’s Foot, Eastbridge, Suffolk, in 1947. This recording by E.J. Moeran was included in 2000 on the Veteran anthology of traditional singing and music from The Eel’s Foot, Good Order! Ladies and Gentlemen Please, and in 2012 on the Snatch’d From Oblivion CD East Anglia Sings.
Phil Tanner sang Fair Phoebe and the Dark-Eyed Sailor on a BBC recording made on 22 April 1949 at Penmaen. It was included in 1968 on his eponymous EFDSS album, Phil Tanner, and in 2003 on his Veteran anthology CD The Gower Nightingale. Roy Palmer noted in the album’s booklet:
Lovers, faced with years of separation and fearing they would fail to recognise each other when they were reunited, would break a coin or a ring and take half each, to be kept as a form of identification. The “broken token” theme inspired a whole series of songs, including Fair Phoebe and the Dark-Eyed Sailor (which is sometimes known merely by the second half of the title). This may owe something to the vogue for Black-Ey’d Susan, written by Douglas Jerrold in 1829, and in turn based on John Gay’s poem, Sweet William’s Farewell to Black-Eyed Susan of the previous century. Fair Phoebe seems to have been first printed by the ballad publishing rivals, John Pitts and James Catnach, both of Seven Dials in London, and it appears in both their catalogues. Other printers took to it up in Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and elsewhere—and it became widespread in oral tradition in Britain, Ireland and North America.
A.L. Lloyd sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor, in 1956 on his Riverside LP English Street Songs. This track was also included in 2008 on his Fellside anthology Ten Thousand Miles Away He noted on the first album:
Like The Indian Lass, this widespread ballad presents the idealised sailor in a situation which was a favourite with 19th century stall ballad printers. In it, a tear stained beauty encounters her sailor lover (long thought drowned) by the shores of the rolling sea. He identifies himself (with the aid of the much used ring-token) and they marry and live happily thereafter. So firmly did street balladeers’ leaflets fix this song in the minds of the people, that its many versions, collected over wide areas of Britain and America, hardly vary at all, and seem to have remained virtually unaffected by the processes of oral transmission usual with folk songs.
Sam Larner sang The Dark Eyed Sailor to Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker in 1958-60. This recording was included in 2014 on his Musical Traditions anthology Cruising Round Yarmouth. Rod Stradling noted in the album’s booklet:
A well-known and well-loved song right across the Anglophone world, with 347 Roud entries, ranging from an 1820s’ English printing to a 1989 sound recording in Ireland.
It’s one of a number of modern ballads on the theme of Hind Horn, with parted lovers, a broken token, the man’s return in disguise, the woman’s fidelity tested,ending in a gentle Victorian triumph. Catnach published the song on a broadside c.1830 and every example that has since turned up relates to that printed set. The tune is slightly older—Vaughan Williams includes it in one of his Folk Song Suites—and its sophisticated ‘doubletting’ of the first half of the final phrase shows the influence of the stage, the kind of thing that the folk might adopt, but wouldn’t invent.
Scan Tester and company sang The Dark Eyed Sailor on 27 May 1960 at The Royal Oak, Milton Street, Sussex. This recording by Brian Matthews was included in 2001 on the Musical Traditions anthology of songs from Sussex pubs, Just Another Saturday Night.
Arthur Wood of Middlesbough, Yorkshire, sang The Dark Eyed Sailor in 1962 or earlier to Colin S. Wharton as part of what became his Leeds University degree thesis “Folk Songs From the North Riding”. It was included in 2019 on the Musical Traditions anthology of Songs of the North Riding from the 1962 Colin Wharton Collection.
Caroline Hughes sang a one-verse fragment of The Dark-Eyed Sailor to Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker in 1963 or 1965. This recording was included in 2014 on her Musical Traditions anthology Sheep-Crook and Black Dog.
Fred Jordan sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor to Bill Leader and Mike Yates in a private room in The Bay Malton Hotel, Oldfield Brow, Altringham, Cheshire, in 1966. This recording was included in the same year on his Topic album Songs of a Shropshire Farm Worker and in 1998 on the Topic anthology My Ship Shall Sail the Ocean (The Voice of the People Volume 2). The original album’s notes commented:
This is one of a number of modern ballads on the theme of Hind Horn, with parted lovers, broken token, the man’s return in disguise, the woman’s fidelity tested, ending in a gentle Victorian triumph. Catnach published the song on a broadside around 1836, and every example that has since turned up relates to that printed set. The tune is slightly older, and its sophisticated doubletting of the first half of the final phrase shows the influence of the stage, the kind of thing that folk might adopt but wouldn’t invent. Fred Jordan learnt this song from his mother; it was one of her favourites.
George Belton sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor to Sean Davies and Tony Wales at Madehurst, Arundel, Sussex on 29 January 1967. This recording was released in the same year on his EFDSS album All Jolly Fellows …. Tony Wales noted:
One of the popular ‘Broken Token’ family of songs, this Victorian ballad is probably George’s most requested song. Catnach printed it as a Broadside about 1836, which seems to have been the source of the present song as it is found in country singers’ repertoires. It appears in Kidson: A Garland of English Folk-Songs and in the Folk Song Society Journal. It has been recorded by Fred Jordan (Topic) and Dave Hoy (Lynsound).
Sydney Scott of North Ronaldsay, Orkney, sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor in 1967 to Alan Bruford. This field recording was included in 2004 on the Greentrax anthology Orkney: Land, Sea & Community (Scottish Tradition 22).
Bob Hart sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor to Bill Leader at home in 1969. This recording was included in 1998 on his Musical Traditions anthology A Broadside. Rod Stradling noted:
Yet another very well-known song which has remained popular with country singers ’til the present day; Roud’s 194 instances are about equally divided between books, broadsides and sound recordings. Although the great majority are from England, it was widely found in North America, and Gavin Greig found several examples in Scotland.
Peter Bellamy sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor in 1969 on his second solo LP, Fair England’s Shore.
Steeleye Span recorded The Dark-Eyed Sailor in 1970 for their first album, Hark! The Village Wait, with both Gay Woods and Maddy Prior singing. A live recording from St. David’s Hall, Cardiff on 6 December 1994 can be found on the video 25 Live: The Classic Twenty Fifth Anniversary Tour Concert. Another live recording from The Forum, London on 2 September 1995 was released on the CD The Journey. The first album’s sleeve notes commented:
A song after the fashion of John Riley commonly found on broadsides. Gay and Terry [Woods] heard this version from Al O’Donnell, a friend and singer in Dublin. It must be remembered that sea voyages a few centuries ago could take years to complete and it is not surprising that the two lovers should each take one half of a ring as a token of their enduring love. Hutchings: “This was brought in by Terry & Gay, and it’s a song I still perform today with The Albion Band.”
Percy Webb of Tunstall, Suffolk sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor, on 18 February 1970 at the King’s Head Folk Club. This recording was included in 2012 on the Musical Traditions anthology of traditional performers at the King’s Head Folk Club. Rod Stradling noted:
Many adjectives could be employed to describe Percy Webb’s singing; subtle wouldn’t normally be one of them—and yet here he gives an uncharacteristically subtle and quiet performance of this well-loved song which has remained popular with country singers ’til the present day. There is much audience laughter at the end of verse 4, and Percy’s a bit put off for a while—we have shown what he sang in another recording, in italics. Roud’s 194 instances are about equally divided between books, broadsides and sound recordings. Although the great majority are from England, it was widely found in North America, and Gavin Greig found several examples in Scotland.
This is one of a number of modern ballads on the theme of Hind Horn, with parted lovers, broken token, the man’s return in disguise, the woman’s fidelity tested, ending in a gentle Victorian triumph. Catnach published the song on a broadside c.1830 and every example that has since turned up relates to that printed set. The tune is slightly older—Vaughan Williams includes it in one of his Folk Song Suites—and its sophisticated ‘doubletting’ of the first half of the final phrase shows the influence of the stage, the kind of thing that the folk might adopt, but wouldn’t invent.
Christy Moore sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor, in 1972 on his Trailer album Prosperous.
Walter Pardon sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor recorded by Bill Leader, Peter Bellamy and Reg Hall in June 1974, on his Leader LP A Proper Sort and in an alternative recording in 2000 on his Topic anthology A World Without Horses.
Louis and Sally Killen sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor in 1975 on their LP Bright Shining Morning. He also sang it in 1997 on his CD A Seaman’s Garland. He noted on the first album:
This is the classic “broken token” song and can be found, almost without variant in tune or text, throughout the British Isles, Newfoundland, and the Maritime Provinces. I learned this from a good friend and source of songs, Brian Ballinger, in Oxford in 1956.
Al O’Donnell sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor on his 1978 Transatlantic The Leader Tradition album Al O’Donnell 2.
Gordon Tyrrall sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor in 1978 on his Hill & Dale album Farewell to Foggy Hills. He noted:
This was learnt from the singing of Walter Pardon from Norfolk. The guitar is tuned DADGAD.
Charlotte Renals of the West Country travelling families, the Orchards, sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor to Pete Coe in 1978. This recording was included in 1990 on the family’s Veteran cassette and in 2003 on the Veteran/Backshift CD Catch Me If You Can. Charlotte’s nephew Viv Legg sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor on his and Thomas McCarthy’s CD Jauling the Green Tober. Mike Yates noted:
Charlotte’s version of this ‘broken token’ ballad is strikingly similar, both textually and melodically, to a set collected by Cecil Sharp on 9 January 1904, from one William Nott, of Meshaw in Devonshire [VWML CJS2/9/161] . The idea of the ‘broken ring’ goes back to Homer—who used the idea in The Odyssey—and forms a central part of the ballad Hind Horn (Child 17), although the song The Dark Eyed Sailor probably only dates from the end of the eighteenth century. It was published on a number of nineteenth century broadsides and has been collected extensively.
Derek Sarjeant and Hazel King sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor on their c. 1980 Luzifer album Shades of Loving and Leaving. They noted:
A well known English traditional song. Derek collected this particular version from an old farm labourer in Devon.
Bob Roberts sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor in 1982 on his Solent album Breeze for a Bargeman.
Tony Rose sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor in 1982 on his album Poor Fellows. As this album is now unavailable, he re-recorded it in 1999 for his CD Bare Bones. He noted on the first album:
Perhaps the best known of all the “broken token” songs. The remarkable consistency of tune and text is largely due to the amazing popularity of the Catnach broadside of 1836.
John Bowden sang Fair Phoebe and the Dark-Eyed Sailor on his and Vic Shepherd’s 1982 album A Motty Down. They noted:
Many years ago we heard Tony Rose sing some of Phil Tanner’s song, and soon afterwards we bought the EFDSS record, which has remained a treasured part of our collection ever since. Although an old man when it was recorded, Phil Tanner was a marvellous stylist with the range and flexibility of voice of a man half his age. This lovely broken-token song has been one of John’s favourites for many years.
Gordon Syrett of Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor to John Howson in December 1982. This recording was included in 1993 on a Veteran Tapes double cassette and in 2009 on the Veteran anthology of traditional music making from Mid-Suffolk, Many a Good Horseman. John Howson noted:
This classic broken-token song, often known as Fair Phoebe and her Dark-Eyed Sailor, tells the story of two lovers who break a token—such as a ring—in half when they are parted, so that they will know each other when they are finally reunited. The song originated in the late eighteenth century, was printed on street ballad sheets in the early nineteenth century, and survived in the oral tradition into the twentieth century when it was particularly popular in Suffolk. It was a favourite of Fred Whiting from Kenton and E.J. Moeran recorded Jack Clark at the Eel’s Foot in Eastbridge singing it in 1947.
Bryony sang Dark-Eyed Sailor in 1984 on their Traditional Sound cassette Part Time Job.
Fred Whiting from Kenton, Suffolk sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor to John Howson in between 1985 and 1987. His recording was released on 1989 on the Veteran Tapes cassette of songs of bargemen, fishermen and sailors sung by traditional singers From Suffolk, Songs Sung in Suffolk Vol. 5.
Elaine Morgan sang Dark-Eyed Sailor on her 1989 Albino cassette First Blush. She was accompanied by Phil Beer, Ashley Hutchings and others.
Gordon Hall sang Black Eyed Sailor in a home recording made in the early 1990s that he included on his cassette anthology Warts & Hall.
June Tabor recorded Dark-Eyed Sailor in 1990 with the Oysterband for their album Freedom and Rain. This track was also included in 1993 on her Music Club compilation Anthology.
Cyril Tawney sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor on his 1992 Neptune Tapes cassette In Every Port. This track was included in 2003 on his anthology Nautical Tawney.
Kate Rusby and Kathryn Roberts sang Dark-Eyed Sailor in 1995 on their eponymous album Kate Rusby & Kathryn Roberts.
Calennig sang Fair Phoebe and the Dark-Eyed Sailor in 2000 on their WildGoose CD A Gower Garland, released in remembrance of the 50th anniversary of Phil Tanner’s death. They noted:
Phil Tanner recorded this for the BBC in 1949, in the last year of his life; his superb sense of rhythm and his ability to tell a good story had not faded one iota. Phoebe’s double-edged cunning must have put a real twinkle in his eye. The closing tune is Y Gwr a’i Farch (The Man and His Horse).
The New Scorpion Band and Fretwork sang and played The Dark Eyed Sailor on their 2000 CD Viols and Voyages.
Tarras sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor in 2001 on their Topic CD Walking Down Mainstreet.
Bonnie Milner sang Dark-Eyed Sailor in 2003 on the Folk-Legacy anthology of traditional Irish-American songs from the Helen Hartness Flanders Ballad Collection, Irish Songs From Old New England.
The Stanchester Quire, directed by Eddie Upton, sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor as part of Folk South West’s The Fanfare of the South West Suite on their 2003 Fellside CD Fanfare for the South West.
Mike Bosworth sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor on his 2004 CD of songs from the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould Collection, By Chance It Was. He was accompanied by John Kirkpatrick on concertina. He noted:
This song I’ve sung for years. Baring-Gould’s version is titled The Broken Token, with words similar to mine.
Ruth Notman recorded Dark-Eyed Sailor in 2007 for her first CD, Threads.
Stephanie Hladowski and Chris Joynes sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor on their 2012 CD The Wild Wild Berry.
Olivia Chaney sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor on 22 May 2013 on Mark Radcliffe’s BBC Radio 2 programme The Folk Show. This was published a month later on the download EP The Mark Radcliffe Folk Sessions.
Kim Lowings & the Greenwood sang Dark-Eyed Sailor in 2015 on their CD Historia.
Ninebarrow sang Dark-Eyed Sailor on their 2016 CD Releasing the Leaves. They noted:
There are many versions of this broken-token ballad to be heard, but it was Olivia Chaney’s which really inspired us to start singing it. There’s a bit of a mini-narrative running through Silent Prayer, Coming Home [which are also on this album] and this song. Separation forced on a relationship through a long voyage at sea, first from the perspective of a sailor and then from that of a sailor’s wife, gives the impression that both distant couples may never see one another again. Happy endings seem to arise fairly infrequently in English folk music(!)—and we saw a good opportunity to provide one here.
Kelly Oliver sang Dark-Eyed Sailor on her 2018 CD Botany Bay. She noted:
Collected by Lucy Broadwood in Hertfordshire; taken from The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.
The moral of this story is to stay true to your love while they are away, but also to try and remember what your fiancée looks like.
Ken Wilson sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor on his 2018 CD Portraits. He noted:
Perhaps the most well known of the ‘broken token’ songs. A classic story of two lovers, each taking one half of a ring as a token of their enduring love, before a sailor went off to sea. Often for tens of years before returning.
James Findlay sang Dark Eyed Sailor on his 2019 CD The Where and the When. He noted:
A classic ‘broken token’ song. As in many examples of these songs, the woman is somewhat acceptant of the trick that her lover plays on her. I can’t help but feel that she should have just given him a slap and pushed him off the pier.
Although widely collected, The Dark Eyed Sailor seems have very few variations. This is the version collected by Lucy Broadwood in November of 1893 from Mrs Hill of Lincolnshire [VWML RoudFS/S144136] .
Belinda Kempster and Fran Foote sang Dark-Eyed Sailor at the Café Oto on 18-19 March 2017. This recording was released on Stick in the Wheel’s download single From Here: English Folk Field Recordings Live at Café Oto. They also sang it on their 2019 CD On Clay Hill.
Folklincs sang Dark Eyed Sailor on their 2020 album Songs & Tunes From North Lincolnshire. They noted:
This is adapted from a version sung by Thomas Stark, aged 73, of Broughton on 1 August 1906 noted by Percy Grainger and a version sung by James Hornsby, a 73 year old rat poisoner of Crosby, Scunthorpe, two days earlier. A few lines have been taken from broadsides.
(Lead Singer: Kathleen Watson)
SykesMartin sang Dark Eyed Sailor on their 2022 album Unquenching Fire.
Allister Thompson sang The Dark-Eyed Sailor on his 2024 album Ancestors.
Eamon O’Leary and Nuala Kennedy sang Dark-Eyed Sailor on their 2024 album Hydra. They noted:
Another song adapted from the version in one of our favourite collections, Songs of the People.
Sam Kelly sang Dark-Eyed Sailor on his 2025 Navigator album Dreamers Dawn. He noted:
A traditional folk ballad about the providential reuniting ot two long lost lovers after many years. A rare story about love’s return rather than love’s parting.
Compare to this Lal Waterson singing The Welcome Sailor on her and Norma Waterson’s LP and CD A True Hearted Girl, to Joan Baez singing John Riley on her first, eponymous album (Vanguard VSD 2077), and to Nancy Kerr singing The Poor and Young Single Sailor on her and Eliza Carthy’s second album, Shape of Scrape.
Lyrics
Jack Clark sings The Dark-Eyed Sailor
(Philip Lumpkin) Ladies and gentlemen please just give us a little order this time if you don’t mind in the passage. We’re going to have a song from Jack, The Dark Eyed Sailor if you don’t mind; please give us a little order in the passage if you don’t mind.
Twas of a comely young lady fair
Twas walking out for to take the air
She met a sailor whilst on her way
So I paidiad attention, so I paid attention
So I paid attention to hear what they did say.
So I paid attention, so I paid attention
So I paid attention to hear what they did say.
He said “Ppray lady, why roam alone,
The day’s fast spent and the night’s coming on”
She said, whilst tears from her eyes did fall
“Twas the dark-eyed sailor,
twas the dark-eyed sailor that prov-ed my downfall.
Twas the dark-eyed sailor,
twas the dark-eyed sailor that prov-ed my downfall.
“It’s two long years since he left the land
A golden ring he took from off my hand
We broke the token here’s part with me
Whilst the other lay rollin’
Whilst the other lay rollin’ at the bottom of sea.
Whilst the other lay rollin’
Whilst the other lay rollin’ at the bottom of sea.”
Said William “Lady, drive him from your mind
There’s other sailors as good you’ll find
Love turns aside and soon cold has grown
Like a winter’s morning
Like a winter’s morning, with the ground all covered with snow.
Like a winter’s morning
Like a winter’s morning, with the ground all covered with snow.”
These words did Pheobe’s young heart inflame
She said “Up on me you shall play no game”
She drew her dagger and loud did cry
“For my dark-eyed sailor
For my dark-eyed sailor a maid I live and die
For my dark-eyed sailor
For my dark-eyed sailor a maid I live and die”
Now in a cottage down by the sea
They joined in wedlock and well agree
O maids be true whilst your love’s away
For a cloudy morning
For a cloudy morning brings forth a sunshine day.
For a cloudy morning
For a cloudy morning brings forth a sunshine day.
(Announcer) Did you take notice of that, The Dark Eyed Sailor, a song which has been thought to be an exclusive object of highbrow collectors. Here sung in a pub by thirty local who have known it all their lives.
Phil Tanner sings Fair Phoebe and the Dark-Eyed Sailor
It’s of a comely young lady fair,
Who was walking out for to take the air,
She met a sailor upon her way,
𝄆 So I paid attention 𝄇 to hear what they did say.
Said William, “Lady, why roam alone?
The night is coming, and the day near gone.”
She said, while tears from her eyes did roll,
𝄆 “It’s a dark-eyed sailor 𝄇 hath prov-ed my downfall.
“It is two long years since he left this land,
I took a gold ring from off my hand,
I broke that token, this part with me,
𝄆 And the other is rolling 𝄇 in the bottom of the sea.”
Said William, “Drive him all from your mind,
Some other sailor as good you’ll find.”
“Genteel he was, not a rake like you.
𝄆 To advise a maiden 𝄇 to slight the jacket blue.”
These words did Phoebe’s fond heart inflame,
She said, “On me you shall play no game.”
She drew a dagger and then did cry,
𝄆 “For my dark-eyed sailor 𝄇 a maid I live and die.
“ But still,” said Phoebe, “I ne’er disdain
A tarry sailor but treat the same,
Love turns aside and soon does grow.
𝄆 Like a winter’s morning 𝄇 when the land is covered with snow.”
Then half the ring did young William show.
She seemed distracted with joy and woe,
“Oh welcome William, I’ve land and gold.
𝄆 It’s my dark-eyed sailor, 𝄇 so manly, true and bold.”
His coal black eyes and his curly hair,
And pleading tongue did her heart ensnare,
“Oh, drink his health, here’s a piece of coin.
𝄆 For my dark-eyed sailor 𝄇 still claims this heart of mine.”
Then in a village down by the sea,
They joined in wedlock, and will agree:
All maids be true when your lover is away,
𝄆 For a cloudy morning, for a cloudy morning, brings forth a sun shine day!
Sam Larner sings The Dark Eyed Sailor
Twas of a comely young maiden, fair,
She was walking out for to view the air.
Oh, she met her sailor, all on his way,
So she paid attention, so she paid attention,
To hear what he did say.
Said William, “Lady, why roam alone?
For the nights are coming and the days are done.
Love turn aside, and soon grow cold,
Like a wintry morning,
Like a wintry morning,
All the earth is wrapped in snow.”
“Now ‘tis three long years since he left the land
He took a gold ring from off my hand.
And with loving words he … gave to me,
Whilst he—then she said—whilst—cos she thought he was drowned
Whilst the other lay rolling,
Whilst the other lay rolling,
At the bottom of the sea.”
Said William,““Lady, drive him from your mind,
Some other man you will find in …
Some other man you …” eh, she said.
She drew a dagger and then replied,
“For me dark-eyed sailor,
For me dark-eyed sailor,
I’d either live or die.”
Now with this ring did young William show,
She seemed distracted with all her woe.
“Welcome, dear William, to lands of gold,
For ‘tis my dark-eyed sailor,
‘Tis my dark-eyed sailor,
So manly, true and bold.”
Now, down in … down in the …
Spoken: I ought to have it—I used to sing it and on …
Fred Jordan sings The Dark-Eyed Sailor
A young lady so charming and fair
Was walking out for to take the air.
She met a sailor bright and gay
And so I paid attention,
So I paid attention to hear what they did say.
Said William, “Why walkest alone?
Ah, the day is near done and the night and nigh come.”
She said, as tears from her eyes did roll,
“It is the dark-eyed sailor.
It is the dark-eyed sailor has caused me my downfall.”
Said William, “Chase him from thy mind,
For better sailors than him you’ll find.
Thy love is young; it will soon grow cold
Like a winter’s morning,
Like a winter’s morning when snow covers the ground.”
“Ah, he had dark eyes and jet-black hair.
His pleasing tongue did my heart ensnare.
Upright he was — no rogue like you —
To advise a maiden,
To advise a maiden to slight the jacket blue.”
“’Tis seven long years since he left this land,
A golden token he took off his hand.
He broke the token in half with me,
And now the other’s rolling,
Now the other’s rolling at the bottom of the sea.”
William then did her the token show
Which set the maiden’s heart a glow.
“Welcome, William, for I’ve land and gold
And a store of silver
For my sailor lover, so manly, true and bold.”
Bob Hart sings The Dark-Eyed Sailor
It’s of a comely young lady fair
Who was walking out for to take the air,
She met a sailor all on her way,
𝄆 So I paid attention 𝄇
just to hear what they did say.
Said William, “Lady, why roam alone?
The night is dark and the day far gone."
She said, while tears from her eyes did fall,
𝄆 “It’s a dark-eyed sailor 𝄇
that provèd my downfall.
“It is two long years since he left the land,
He took a gold ring from off my hand.
We broke the token; here’s part with me,
𝄆 And the other lays rolling 𝄇
at the bottom of the sea.”
Said William, “Drive him from your mind,
Some other sailor, as good, you’ll find.
Love turned aside, oh, and soon will grow,
𝄆 Like a winter’s morning 𝄇
when the lands are covered with snow.”
These words did fair Phoebe’s heart inflame.
She said, “On me you shall play no game.”
She drew a dagger and then did cry,
𝄆 “For my dark-eyed sailor 𝄇
a maid I’ll live and die.
“His coal-black eyes and his curly hair,
His pleasing tongue did my heart ensnare.
Genteel he was, not a rake like you,
𝄆 To advise a maiden 𝄇
to forsake a jacket blue.”
Then half the ring did young William show.
She seemed distracted, ’midst joy and woe.
“Oh, welcome, William, I’ve land and gold
𝄆 For my dark-eyed sailor 𝄇
so manly, true and bold.”
Then in a village down by the sea,
Let’s join in wedlock and well agree.
Be true to your lovers when they’re away,
𝄆 For a cloudy morning 𝄇
bringeth forth a sunny day.
Peter Bellamy sings The Dark-Eyed Sailor
It’s of a charming young lady fair,
She went walking out for to take the air;
She met a sailor all on her way
𝄆 And I paid attention 𝄇 to hear what they did say.
He said, “Fair lady, why do you walk alone,
For the day is gone and the night is come?”
Said she while tears from her eyes did fall,
“𝄆 It is the dark-eyed sailor 𝄇 has caused me my downfall.”
“’Tis three long years since he left this land
He pulled a gold ring from off his hand.
We broke the token and this half’s with me,
𝄆 And the other lies rollin’ 𝄇 at the bottom of the sea.”
He said, “Fair lady, drive him from your mind,
For I’m as good as he, you’ll find.”
But she drew a dagger and loud she did cry,
“𝄆 For my dark-eyed sailor 𝄇 I lived and now I’ll die.”
The other token he then did show,
She was distracted midst joy and woe.
“Oh William doar, I have land and I have gold
And a store of silver
“𝄆 For my dark-eyed sailor 𝄇 so manly true and bold.”
Steeleye Span sing The Dark-Eyed Sailor
As I roved out one evening fair,
It bein’ the summertime to take the air,
I spied a sailor and a lady gay
𝄆 And I stood to listen 𝄇 to hear what they would say.
He said “Fair lady, why do you roam,
For the day is spent and the night is on.”
She heaved a sigh while the tears did roll:
“𝄆 For my dark-eyed sailor 𝄇, so young and stout and bold.”
“’Tis seven long years since he left this land,
A ring he took from off his lily-white hand.
One half of the ring is still here with me,
𝄆 But the other’s rollin’ 𝄇 at the bottom of the sea.”
He said, “You may drive him out of your mind,
Some other young man you will surely find.
Love turns aside and soon cold does grow
𝄆 Like a winter’s morning 𝄇, the hills all white with snow.”
She said, “I’ll never forsake my dear,
Although we’re parted this many a year.
Genteel he was and no rake like you,
𝄆 To induce a maiden 𝄇 to slight the jacket blue.”
One half of the ring did young William show,
She ran distracted, in grief and woe.
Sayin’: “William, Will, I have gold in store,
𝄆 For my dark-eyed sailor 𝄇 has proved his overthrow.”
And there is a cottage by yonder lea,
This couple’s married and does agree.
So maids, be loyal when your love’s at sea,
𝄆 For a cloudy morning 𝄇 brings in a sunny day.
Note: The live version on The Journey has only five verses in the order 1-5-4-6-7 and some small text differences; e.g. “might” instead of “would” at the last line of verse 1, “shun” instead of “slight” at the last line of verse 5 and “summer’s day” instead of “sunny day” in the very last line.
Percy Webb sings The Dark-Eyed Sailor
It’s of a comely young lady fair,
Was walking out once to take the air,
She met a sailor all on her way,
So she paid attention, so she paid attention
To hear what he did say.
Said William, “Lady, why roam alone?
The day’s near done and night’s coming on.”
She said, while the tears from her eyes did fall,
“Here’s my dark-eyed sailor, here’s my dark-eyed sailor,
That’s provèd my downfall.
“It’s seven long years since he left this land,
He took a gold ring from off my hand.
He broke it then gave half to me,
While the other’s rolling, while the other’s rolling
At the bottom of the sea.”
Said William, “Drive him from off your mind,
For a tarry sailor as good you’ll find.
Love turns aside but very soon do go,
Like a winter’s morning, like a winter’s morning
When the ground is covered with snow.”
These words did her fond heart inflame,
And she said, “Tell me you will cast no shame.”
She drew a dagger and loud did cry:
“For my dark-eyed sailor, for my dark-eyed sailor
A maid I’ll live and die.
“His coal black eyes and his curly hair,
His pleasing tongue did my heart ensnare
Genteel he was not a rake like you
To advise a maiden, to advise a maiden
To slight the jacket blue.
“But still” she said: “I’ll never disdain
A tarry sailor, but I’ll treat the same;
Go drink his health, here’s a piece of kind,
For this dark-eyed sailor, for this dark-eyed sailor
Still claims this heart of mine.”
Then half the ring did young William show,
Her heart was distracted, midst joy and woe
She said, “Welcome, William, I have land and gold
For my dark-eyed sailor, for my dark-eyed sailor
So manly, true and bold.”
Now in a village down by the sea
They’re joined in wedlock and well agree.
For maids, be true when your lover’s away,
For a cloudy morning, for a cloudy morning
Brings home a sunny day.
Walter Pardon sings The Dark-Eyed Sailor
It’s of a comely young maiden fair
Was walking out for to take the air
She met a sailor all on her way
So I paid attention so I paid attention
To hear what they did say
Said William lady why roam alone
The night is coming the day is gone
She cried while tears from her eyes did fall
’Tis the dark eyed sailor ’tis the dark eyed sailor
Who has caused my downfall
’Tis six long years since he left this land
I took a gold ring from off my hand
We broke the token here’s a part with me
And the other is rolling and the other is rolling
At the bottom of the sea
Said William drive him from off your mind
Some other sailors as true you’ll find
Love turned aside so cold do grow
Like a winter’s morning like a winter’s morning
When the ground is covered with snow
These words in Phoebe’s fond heart did flame
She cried on me you will play no game
She drew a dagger and then did cry
For my dark eyed sailor for my dark eyed sailor
A maid I live and die
His coal black eyes and his curly hair
His pleasant tongue did my heart ensnare
Genteel he was not a rake like you
To advise a maiden to advise a maiden
To slight the jacket blue
Then half the ring did young William show
She seemed distracted midst joy and woe
O welcome William I’ve land and gold
For my dark eyed sailor for my dark eyed sailor
So manly true and bold
Now in a cottage down by the sea
They joined in wedlock and well agree
All maids be true when your love’s away
For a cloudy morning for a cloudy morning
Brings forth a pleasant day
Tony Rose sings The Dark-Eyed Sailor
It’s of a comely young lady fair
Was walking out for to take the air.
She met a sailor all on her way;
𝄆 So I paid attention 𝄇 to hear what they did say.
Said William, “Why do you walk alone,
For the day is done and the night is come?”
Said she as tears from her eyes did fall,
“𝄆 ’Twas the dark-eyed sailor 𝄇 has provèd my downfall.”
“It’s seven long years since he’s left the land
When he took the gold ring from off his hand.
He broke the token in half with me,
𝄆 Now the other’s rollin’ 𝄇 at the bottom of the sea.”
Said William, “Chase him from your mind,
For a better sailor’s than him you’ll find.
Love a-turns aside and soon cold has grown
𝄆 Like a winter’s morning 𝄇 when the land is white with snow.”
These words did Phoebe’s fond heart inflame,
She said, “On me you shall play no game.”
She drew a dagger and then did cry,
“𝄆 For my dark-eyed sailor 𝄇 a maid I’ll live and die.”
Oh his coal-black eyes and his curly hair,
His ’mazing tongue did my heart ensnare.
Upright he was, not a rogue like you
𝄆 To entice a maiden 𝄇 to slight the jacket blue.”
So William then did the token show,
She seemed distracted midst joy and woe.
“Welcome William, for I’ve land and gold
And a store of silver
For my dark-eyed sailor so manly true and bold.”
Gordon Syrett sings The Dark-Eyed Sailor
’Twas of a comely young maiden fair,
Who was walking out for to get the air.
She met a sailor lad on the way,
𝄆 So she paid attention 𝄇
to what he had to say.
Said William, “Lady why roam alone?
The night is coming and the day near gone.”
She said, while tears from her eyes did flow,
“Tis the dark-eyed sailor, ’twas the dark-eyed sailor,
That proved to my overthrow.”
Said William, “Drive him from your mind.
Some other sailor lad, as good, you’ll find.”
She drew her dagger and then did cry—
𝄆 “For my dark-eyed sailor 𝄇
a maid I’ll live or die.”
Then half a ring did young William show.
She seemed distracted midst joy and woe.
“Oh welcome William, for I’ve land and gold.
𝄆 For my dark-eyed sailor, 𝄇
a man so brave and bold.”
’Twas in a village down by the sea,
They joined in wedlock, and I well agree.
All maids be true, while your love is away,
𝄆 For a cloudy morning 𝄇
brings forth a sun-shiny day.
Eamon O’Leary and Nuala Kennedy sing Dark-Eyed Sailor
I will tell you of a lady fair,
Went out one evening for to take the air.
Well she met with a sailor along the way
And I paid attention,
And I paid attention to what they might say,
Says Willie to her, “why walk alone?
The day is spent and the night coming on.”
She said as down the tears did fall,
“It’s a dark-eyed sailor,
It’s a dark-eyed sailor has been my downfall.
“It’s seven years since he left the land
And took the gold ring from off my hand.
Broke it in two, gave half to me,
Now the other’s rolling,
Now the other’s rolling in the deep blue sea.
“Well it’s seven years since he left the land,
I fear by now he is dead and gone.
Love turns aside and cold does grow
As a winter evening,
As a winter evening in the frost and snow.”
The half ring Willie he then did show,
And down her cheeks the tears did flow.
“You are welcome love, I have lands and gold
For my dark-eyed sailor,
For my dark-eyed sailor who was true and bold.”
Sam Kelly sings Dark-Eyed Sailor
It was a comely young lady fair
Was walking out to take the air
She met a sailor on the way
So I paid attention, so I paid attention
To hear what they might say.
He said, “Fair lady, why do you roam,
For the day is spent and the night is on.”
She heaved a sigh while the tears did roll:
“For my dark-eyed sailor, for my dark-eyed sailor
A man so true and bold.”
“ It is six long years since he left our home,
A wedding ring he gently broke;
He left this token—here’s half you see,
And the other he’s keeping, and the other he’s keeping
To remind him oft of me.”
Cried the sailor, “Drive him from your mind,
Many as good as him you’ll find;
He has turned aside and cold has grown,
Like a winter’s morning, like a winter’s morning
When the hills are clad with snow.”
These words her true heart did inflame,
She said, “On me you shall play no game.”
She drew a dagger and then did cry,
“For my dark-eyed sailor, for my dark-eyed sailor
A maid I live and die.”
She said, “I’ll never forsake my dear,
Although we’ve parted this many a year.
Genteel he was and no rake like you,
To induce a maiden, to induce a maiden
To slight the jacket blue.”