Fair maids are a shining over valleys and towns
There lived a fair maiden who's name it was Miss Brown
She was courted by a young man so handsome tall and fair
His trade long and steady a ships' carpenter

Now the Queen she needed sailors for to go off to sea
Which made pretty Polly to moan and to grieve
"Oh Willy, handsome Willy don't go off to sea
Remember the vows love you made unto me."

It was early the next morning before the break of day
He's up and to her window and this to her did say:
"Oh Polly, pretty Polly won't you come along with me
Before we are married my friends for to see?"

And he's led her through the groves and through the valleys so deep
'Til at length pretty Polly began for to weep
"Oh Willy, handsome Willy you've led me astray
Through fields and through valleys my life to betray"

"It's truth that you say to me, it's just the truth you say
Since late late last night I've been digging of your grave
Your grave that is open with the spade standing by
And into the grave your fair body will lie"

And he's stabbed her, he's stabbed her 'til the red bloody did flow
And down into the grave her fair body he did throw
He's covered her so neatly, he's made the grave so sound
Never thinking this murder would ever be found

It was early one morning, just at the break of day
It's up spoke our captain, and this to us did say:
"There's a murderer on board and it's lately been done.
Our ship lies in mourning and cannot sail on"

And up steps a sailor, "Indeed sir, not I"
And up steps another, "Indeeed sir, not I"
Then up steps young William to storm, curse and swear
"Indeed sir, not I sir, I vow and declare"

And has he was returning from the captain with speed
He's met pretty Polly, which made his heart grieve
She's whipped him, she's stripped him, she's torn him in three
Saying "That's for the murder of my baby and me"