He hadna been gane a twelvemonth and a day,
When my father brake his arm and the cow was stown away;
My mither she fell sick—my Jamie was at sea,
And auld Robin Gray came a-courting me.
My father couldna wark—my mither couldna spin—
I toiled day and night, but their bread I couldna win;
Auld Rob maintained them baith, and, wi’ tears in his ee,
Said: “Jeanie, O for their sakes, will ye no marry me?”
My heart it said na, and I looked for Jamie back,
But hard blew the winds, and his ship was a wrack;