William and Susan.
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ALL in the Downs the fleet was moord,
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The streamers waving in the wind,
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When black-eyed Susan came on board,
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O where shall I my true-love find?
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Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true,
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If my sweet William sails among your crew.
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William, who high upon the yard,
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Rockd by the billows too and fro,
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Soon as her well-known voice he heard,
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He sighd and cast his eyes below:
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The cords slide swiftly thro his glowing hands,
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And quick as lightening on the deck he stands.
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So the sweet lark, high poisd in air,
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Shuts close his pinions to his breast,
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If chance his mates shrill call he hear,
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And drops at once into her nest:
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The noblest captain of the British fleet,
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Might envy Williams lips those kisses sweet.
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O Susan, Susan, lovely dear,
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My vows shall ever true remain,
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Let me kiss off that falling tear,
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We only part to meet again;
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Change as ye list, ye winds, my mind shall be
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The faithful compass that still points to thee.
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Believe not what the landsmen say,
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Who tempt with doubt thy constant mind,
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Theyll tell thee, sailors, when away,
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In every port a mistress find;
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Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so,
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For thou art present wheresoeer I go.
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If to fair Indias coasts we sail,
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Thy eyes are seen in diamonds bright;
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Thy breath in Africs spicy gale,
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Thy skin is ivory so white---
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Thus every beauteous object that I view,
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Wakes in my soul some charm of pretty Sue.
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Tho battle forcd me from thy arms,
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Let not my charming Susan mourn;
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Tho cannons roar, yet free from harms,
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William shall to his dear return:
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Love turns aside the balls that round me fly,
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Lest precious tears should fall from Susans eye.
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The boatswain gave the dreadful word,
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The sails their swelling bosoms spread,
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No longer must she stay on board---
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They kissd, she sighd, he hung his head;
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Her lessning boat unwilling rows to land,
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Adieu, she cries, and waves her lily hand.
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Williams happy return to Susan.
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AS through the grove I took my way,
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Sweet recreation for to take,
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A charming maiden fair and gay,
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For her love sad moan did make;
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In a sweet bower, near a pleasant green,
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Drest like some goddess, or a beauteous queen.
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Unto this maid with sorrow filld,
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I went to ease her of her smart;
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But when my person she beheld,
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She said, kind sir, I pray depart;
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What business have you here to trouble me,
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Or to go scoffing at my misery?
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Sweet lovely mistress of the grove,
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Why should I make a scoff of thee?
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I do perceive thou art in love,
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And I could wish it was with me.
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Sweet charming creature tell to me thy name,
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For thy bright eyes my senses do inflame.
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Susan is my name, she said,
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Who am opprest with grief and woe;
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My dearest love is gone to sea,
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But where he is I do not know.
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My jewels absence fills my eyes with tears,
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I have not seen him for these many years.
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Kind, lovely Susan, I protest,
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I think I know the same young man,
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Hes got a mole on his right breast,
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Likewise his name is William Lamb:
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And if it be the same, I tell you plain,
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That all your tears are spent in vain.
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He is the man that is my dear,
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Pretty Susan did reply,
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You make me tremble for to hear,
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Of my true-loves inconstancy:
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But surely such a thing can never be,
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For he admires none alive but me.
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Thats your mistake, sweet charming fair,
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Since I will let you understand,
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William is married, I declare,
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Unto a maid in New England,
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And he is raisd unto a high degree;
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Forget him, for he has been false to thee.
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I am a poor distressed maid,
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No other shall make me his bride;
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Tho he is false, a maid Ill live and die,
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But yet my heart does in his bosom lie.
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All happiness attend my dear,
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Whereer he goes by land and sea,
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My love to him is still sincere,
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Altho he has provd false to me;
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Yet let sweet William love me as he will,
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I cant help loving sweet William still.
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I could be glad, with all my heart,
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To see sweet William once again,
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Then I my mind would soon impart
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To him who breaks my heart in twain;
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And she that is his bride, I love her too,
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Tho he be false, my love to him is true.
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SEEING his Susans constancy,
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Tears down his cheeks did drop amain,
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Into her arms he straight did fly,
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Saying, why does my love complain?
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I am thy William, joind to you by oath,
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Nothing but death can part us both.
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My dear, behold on my right breast,
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You know there is a certain mole,
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Let not your heart be sore opprest,
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Here is the broken piece of gold,
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Which we did break upon a certain day,
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When I departed, and you went away.
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Sorrow and hardship I went thro
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While I was on the raging main,
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Now to my dear beloved Sue,
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I am returned safe again;
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No more Ill cross the raging ocean wide,
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But live in pleasure with my loving bride.
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Susan in a swoon did fall
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At Williams feet I do declare;
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He caught her up into his arms,
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Soon he revivd the charming fair;
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William and Susan sweetly passd along
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To Plymouth church, where many do throng.
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Twenty stout sailors brave and bold,
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And twenty maids in rich attire,
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A glorious sight for to behold,
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And music playd at their desire;
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To meet the bride and bridegroom there---
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Who now are joind a sweet and happy pair.
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