Fair Sally Lov'd a Bonny Sailor

Fair Sally lov'd a bonny sailor,
With tears she sent him out to roam,
Young Thomas taking leave did tell her
He left her with his heart at home.
She view'd the seas from off the hill,
And as she turn'd her spinning-wheel,
Sang of her bonny sailor.

The wind grew loud and she grew paler
To see the weathercock turn round,
When lo ! she spied her bonny sailor
Come whistling o'er the fallow ground :
With nimble haste he leap'd the stile,
Fair Sally met him with a smile,
And hugg'd her bonny sailor.

Fast round the waist he took his Sally,
But first around his mouth wip'd he ;
Like home-bred spark he could not dally,
But press'd and kiss'd her with a glee.
'Through winds, and waves, and dashing rain,'
Said he, ; thy Tom's return'd again,
To bring a heart for Sally.'

'Welcome !' cry'd she, ' my constant Thomas,
Tho' out of sight, ne'er out of mind,
Tho' seas our hearts have parted from us,
Yet still my thoughts were left behind ;
So much my thoughts took Tommy's part,
That time nor absence from my heart
Could drive my constant Thomas.'

'This knife the gift of lovely Sally,
Which still I've kept for her dear sake,
A thousand times in am'rous folly
Her name has carv'd upon the deck.
Again this happy pledge returns,
To shew how truly Thomas burns,
How truly burns for Sally.'

'This thimble thou didst give to Sally,
Whene'er I see I think on you.
Then why should Tom stand shilly shally
When yonder steeple's in our view ? '
Tom, never to occasion blind,
Now took her in the coming mind,
And went to church with Sally.