Fair young maid standing by her window
A brisk young sailor she chanced to see
He looked on her as if he knew her
Saying pretty girl, would you fancy me

Seven years I have loved a sailor
And seven more he's been gone to sea
Seven more I will wait upon him
'Till he returns for to marry me

Fair young maid, don't you be so foolish
To waste your life upon just one man
Perhaps he's dead, or perhaps he's married
Maybe he's ill in a foreign land

If he's sick, I will wish him better
And if he's married, I will wish him joy
If he's dead, I will wish him heaven
For he once was my sailor boy

Seven years, you have been so loyal
And seven years, you have been so true
I wish I was that brisk young sailor
I'd not delay for to marry you

Seven years I have loved a sailor
And seven more he's been gone to sea
Seven years makes an alteration
In the course of love between you and me