Don't you see the ships a-coming?
Don't you see them in full sail?
Don't you see the ships a-coming
With the prizes at the tail?
Chorus (after each verse):
Oh my little rolling sailor,
Oh my little rolling he;
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on a rolling sea;
When he's on a rolling, rolling,
When he's on a rolling sea.
Sailors they get all the money,
Soldiers they get none but brass.
How I love my rolling sailor,
Soldiers they can kiss my ...
How can I be blithe and merry
With my true love far from me?
All this pretty little sailors,
They've been pressed and tanged to sea.
How I wish the press were over
And the wars were at an end.
Then every sailor laddie
Would be happy with his friend.
When the wars they are all over
Peace and plenty come again;
Everybody sailor laddie
Will come sailing on the main.
Oh, the wars will soon be over
And the sailors once come home;
Every lass will get a lad,
She won't have to sleep alone.