verse 1:
G C D G
There was an apprentice, lived in Strawberry Lane
C D G
She was loved by her master and her mistress the same
C D G Em
Until a young sailor came sailing o'er the sea
G C D G
And that was the start of her misery
verse 2:
C D G
This young maid being an urfin, she thought it no harm
C D G
For to go into bed for to keep his back warm
C D G Em
He hugged her and he kissed her and he called her his 'Dear'
G C D G
Saying, "I wish that this night were as long as a year"
verse 3:
C D G
It was early next morning the sailor arose
C D G
And into her apron he put handfuls of gold
C D G Em
Saying, "Take this and keep it for the wrong that I have done
G C D G
For this night I may have left you with a daughter or a son"
verse 4:
C D G
"And if it be a girl child, dandle her on yer knee
C D G
And if it be a male child, call him after me
C D G Em
And when he is a man, you can dress him up in blue
G C D G
And he'll skip up the rigging like his daddy used to do
C D G
And it's home boys home, and it's home I'd like to be
C D G
It's home for awhile in my own country
C D G Em
Where the Oak and the Ash and the bonny Elm tree
G C D G
They are all growing green in my own country