"Ho, sailor of the sea!
How's my boy--my boy?"--
"What's your boy's name, good wife,
And in what good ship sailed he?"
"My boy John--
He that went to sea--
What care I for the ship, sailor?
My boy's my boy to me.
"You come back from the sea,
And not know my John?
I might as well have asked some landsman,
Yonder down in the town.
There's not an ass in all the parish
But knows my John.
"How's my boy--my boy?
And unless you let me know,
I'll swear you are no sailor,
Blue jacket or no--
Brass buttons or no, sailor,
Anchor and crown or no--
"Sure, his ship was the Jolly Briton--"
"Speak low, woman, speak low!
"And why should I speak low, sailor,
About my own boy John?
If I was loud as I am proud
I'd sing him over the town!
Why should I speak low, sailor?"--
"That good ship went down."
"How's my boy--my boy?
What care I for the ship, sailor?
I was never aboard her.
Be she afloat or be she aground,
Sinking or swimming, I'll be bound
Her owners can afford her!
I say, how's my John?"--
"Every man on board went down,
Every man aboard her."
"How's my boy--my boy?
What care I for the men, sailor?
I'm not their mother.
How's my boy--my boy?
Tell me of him and no other!
How's my boy--my boy?"