De night was dark lak’ wan black cat,

De wave run ’igh an’ fas’,

W’en de captinne tak’ de poor Rosie

An’ tie her to de mas’.

Den he h’also tak’ de life preserve,

An’ jomp h’off on de lak’,

An’ say, “Good-bye, ma Rosie dear,

I go drown for your sak’.”

Nex’ morning very h’early

Bout haf-pas’ two—t’ree—four—