Melody -
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The sun had just risen and shone o're the plain, The birds they were singing; it was early one spring. I spied a fair couple on the old England shore B-viewing the ocean where the billows do roar. The one was a lady so young and so fair, The other was a captain persuading his dear, Persuading his true-love for to sail the seas o'er, For to cross the wide ocean where the billows do roar. "Your father he is great, he is angry with me; For to stay in`old England he'll be the death of me. For to leave thee behind me 'twould grieve my heart sore For to cross the wide ocean where the billows do roar.' The maiden being grieved she hung down her head; But again taking courage she this to him said: "I am bound to go with you, you brave sailor boy; The ship may come unto called the Lady Leroy." She dressed herself up in a suit of men's clothes And to her old father straightway she did go. She purchased a vessel and paid the demand, And little did he know of his own daughter's hand. She wrote a letter to her lover straightway Saying,"All things are ready; now make no delay." They hoisted their topsails and their colors let fly, And across the wide ocean sailed the Lady Leroy. Her father, just hearing of what was at hand, He swore he would be the death of that handsome young man, For Polly his daughter should ne're be his wife; For such false disobedience he would end her sweet life. He wrote a short note to the captain straightway, Saying, "All things are ready; now make no delay." They hoisted their topsails, their colors let fly, And across the wide ocean where the billows do roar. They had not been out but a week or ten days Till the wind from the east blew a fair pleasant gale. They spied a fair vessel and hailed it with joy, And found it to be the Lady Leroy. They ordered her back to the old England shore Or volleys of grapeshot broadside they would pour; But Polly's own true-love he made this reply: "We'll take all your grapeshot; we'll conquer or die." So volley after volley of grapeshot did pour, Till the cannons on both sides like thunder did roar. But Polly's own true-love he gained the victory, And shouted the sweet sounds of sweet liberty. These two gallant vessels they sailed into Spain, Those two gallant vessels I'll tell you their names; The one was Lord Essie and the other Leroy; And it's luck to pretty Polly and the brave sailor boy. As I was a-walking one morning in May A-viewing wild flowers, all Nature seemed gay I spied a young couple on Erin's green shore They were viewing the ocean where the wild billows roar He said "Pretty Polly you're the girl I adore For to be parted from you it grieves my heart sore Your parents are rich love and angry with me And if I tarry with you, I ruined will be" She's dressed herself up in a suit of men's clothes And to her old father immediately goes She's purchased a ship and laid down the demand It was little he knew it was his own daughter's hand She went to her true love and this she did say "Rise up lovely Johnny, there's no time to stay They've hoisted their topsails and hurrahed with joy And away o'er the ocean sailed the Lady Leroy" When her father found out how he cursed and did swear He sent for his captain and bid him prepare For to seek them and find them and their lives destroy For they ne'er should enjoy his proud Lady Leroy The captain was pleased with his orders to go For to seek them and find them like some wandering foe He spied a fair vessel with her colours let fly He hailed her and found she was the Lady Leroy He's bade them return to old Ireland once more Or broadside and broadside upon them would pour This brave Irish hero has made this reply "We will never surrender, We'll conquer or die" So it's broadside and broadside each other did pour And louder and louder the cannons did roar This brave Irish hero has gained victory D&J -!J Hurrah for true lovers - may they always run free They've landed in Boston that city of fame Of the other shop's commander I'll mention no name Here's a health to pretty Polly, long may she enjoy Her bravest of heroes and her Lady Leroy |