William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
My Sailor LaddieW
Thy foaming billows swelling,
That proudly lash the listening plain,
A tale of glory telling;
Beneath thy sacred bosom low,
In weeds both tall and shady,
The pride of all Macdonough’s crew,
There sleeps my sailor laddie.
With Hull and brave Decatur;
And oft had victory mark’d his way,
Midst scenes of death and slaughter,
But now that manly spirit’s fled
To regions dark and shady!
Deep in a watery tomb is laid
My valiant sailor laddie!
His plighted faith renewing,
Beguiled my heart of every care,
And every doubt subduing.
And as he sigh’d each tender vow,
Beneath the willows shady;
With laurels green I deck’d the brow
Of my young sailor laddie.
And loud the cannons rattle!
Though victory crown’d the doubtful fray,
He fell amidst the battle!
With anxious heart for his dear sake,
I left my mam and daddy,
And hied to seek him on the lake,
My much loved sailor laddie.
To cheer my dying lover!
But ah! my disappointed woe,
My Henry’s gone forever.
For O, they plunged him in the deep,
With hands both rude and bloody,
And left a wretched maid to weep
Her dear lost sailor laddie!