As Willie and Mary met by the seaside a long farewell for to take
Said Mary to Willie 'If you go away I'm afraid my poor heart it might break'
'Oh don't be afraid dearest Mary' he said as he clasped his fond maid to his side
'In my absence don't mourn for when I return I will make you sweet Mary my bride'
Seven long years had passed and no word at last, Mary stood by her own cottage door
A beggar came by with a patch on his eye, bedraggled and ragged and torn
'Your charity fair maid bestow upon me, your fortune I'll tell you beside
The lad that you mourn will never return to make little Mary his bride'
She slipped and she started saying 'All that I have, it's freely to you I would give
If you tell me true what I ask of you - is my Willie dead or alive?'
'He's living' said he 'though in sad poverty and shipwrecked he has been beside
When he'd money untold and pockets of gold he'd have made little Mary his bride'
'Then if he is dead no other I'll wed, no other I'll have by my side
'For in riches though rolled or covered with gold he'd have made his own Mary his bride'
Then the patch on his eye the old beggar let fly, his old coat and crutches beside
And in sailor's blue clothes and with cheeks like the rose it was Willie who stood by her side
'Oh don't be afraid dearest Mary', he said, 'it was only your faith that I tried
To the church we'll away by the break of the day and I'll make you sweet Mary my bride'
Said Mary to Willie 'If you go away I'm afraid my poor heart it might break'
'Oh don't be afraid dearest Mary' he said as he clasped his fond maid to his side
'In my absence don't mourn for when I return I will make you sweet Mary my bride'
Seven long years had passed and no word at last, Mary stood by her own cottage door
A beggar came by with a patch on his eye, bedraggled and ragged and torn
'Your charity fair maid bestow upon me, your fortune I'll tell you beside
The lad that you mourn will never return to make little Mary his bride'
She slipped and she started saying 'All that I have, it's freely to you I would give
If you tell me true what I ask of you - is my Willie dead or alive?'
'He's living' said he 'though in sad poverty and shipwrecked he has been beside
When he'd money untold and pockets of gold he'd have made little Mary his bride'
'Then if he is dead no other I'll wed, no other I'll have by my side
'For in riches though rolled or covered with gold he'd have made his own Mary his bride'
Then the patch on his eye the old beggar let fly, his old coat and crutches beside
And in sailor's blue clothes and with cheeks like the rose it was Willie who stood by her side
'Oh don't be afraid dearest Mary', he said, 'it was only your faith that I tried
To the church we'll away by the break of the day and I'll make you sweet Mary my bride'