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Once I was an apprentice bound,
The salty seas for to sail around;
I made a voyage and I made but one,
When I fell in love with a young fair one.
Right han loo oh right han loo ri day.
Me and my shipmates we did agree,
Some of those fine girls for to go see;
And amongst their race sure she was not shy,
Although I being but apprentice boy
Right han loo oh right han loo ri day.
I bought fine rings and I bought fine clothes,
And I brought them home to that girl I loved;
And for to take them she was not shy,
Although I being but apprentice boy.
Right han loo oh right han loo ri day.
Straight to my Captain then I did go,
And I told him of all my grief and woe;
That I loved a maid as I did my life,
What would I do to make her my wife?
Right han loo oh right han loo ri day.
Oh, nonsense, nonsense you foolish boy,
For to love a maid whom you never enjoyed;
For she has sweethearts roaming the sea,
And she'll be married before your free.
Right han loo oh right han loo ri day.
Oh, now she's gone and left me, you see,
For another lad of a high degree;
For another lad of a high degree,
And she'll be married before I'm free.
Right han loo oh right han loo ri day.
So now, my young men, I'll end my song,
Don't you court those maidens when they're too young;
For they'll court you young and they'll court you old,
And then they'll leave you out in the cold.
Right han loo oh right han loo ri day.
Recorded by Tommy Nemec singing acapella the songs he heard sung by his grandfather, John P. Myrick, and Thomas C. Finlay at house parties in St. Shotts and on Cape Pine, NL (Songs From The Cape, trk#4, 2003, Backcove Music, St. John's, NL, recorded at the Cape Pine Lightstation).
