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Title
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John returned from the sea
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Singer
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Gardner, Richard
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Song Lyrics
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Verse 1
A story, a story well known,
It's of a young man whose name it is John;
Ling time he went to sea and now he's come on shore,
In ragged apparel, like one that is poor.
Verse 2
He went to an alehouse and knocked at the door,
He went to an alehouse where he spent all his store -
'You're welcome home from sea, dear John,' [Mrs] Molly did say,
'Last night my daughter Molly was dreaming of thee.'
Verse 3
'Where is your daughter Molly? Go fetch her unto me.
We'll laugh and we'll sing, and I'll sit her on my knee.'
'My daughter Molly's busy, John,' Mrs Molly did say,
'My daughter Molly's busy, and cannot come to thee.'
Verse 4
After supper was over John hung down his head,
And called for a candle to light him to bed;
'The beds are all full John, and have been for this week,
And now for fresh lodging I'll have you go and seek.'
Verse 5
'O landlord, O landlord, O landlord,' cried he,
'Come tell me my reckoning that I may pay thee.'
'My reckoning is forty shillings, John, Now you have been told.'
Then out of his pocket he pulled handfuls of gold.
Verse 6
To see the gold glittering it made the people stare,
Down ran Miss Molly with her curly hair;
She huddled him, she cuddled him, and called him her dear,
Saying - 'The green bed is empty John, and you can lie there.'
Verse 7
'Since it being so late, no lodgings I could get,
Before I would lie there now, I'd lie out in the street;
If I had not got any money out of doors I had been turned,
So thou and thy old mother can go and get burned.'
