Till I get up to the tall top-mast;

To see if I can spy land?”—

“O here am I, a sailor gude,

To take the helm in hand,

Till you go up to the tall top-mast;

But I fear you’ll ne’er spy land.”

He hadna gane a step, a step,

A step but barely ane,

When a bout flew out of our goodly ship,

And the salt sea it cam in.