I once knew a maiden whose fortune was so,

She courted a sailor, a young sailor boy.

She courted him dearly by night and by day.

Until this young sailor he sailed miles away.

 

Then if I were a blackbird I’d whistle and sing,

I would follow the ship that my true love sailed in,

and on the top rigging

I’d there build my nest

Like an eagle I’d fly on his lily while breast.

(I would pillow my head)

My true love is handsome in every degree,

My parents despise him because he loves me;

But let them despise him or say what they will,

while there’s life in my bosom I’ll love the lad still.

 

If I was a scholar,

could handle a pen.

A letter of love to my sailor I’d send,

I would tell him my sorrows,

my griefs and my woes.

If I could but find him I would crown him with gold.

 

我知道一個年輕的女僕，她的命運是這樣的， 

她追求一個年輕的水手小伙子。 

她日日夜夜深情地追求他。

直到年輕的水手離開，在千里之外。 

 

如果我是隻黑鳥，我會吹口哨，唱歌， 

我會飛到我真正的愛人所在的船上， 

在頂級索具

我會在那築巢 

像老鷹那樣，我會飛到他那百合白般的胸膛上。

〈我把頭枕在胸前〉

我的真愛在各方面都很帥氣， 

我父母鄙視他，因為他愛我； 

但讓他們鄙視他，或是讓他們去說， 

我的心裡有個生命，我仍會愛這小伙子。

 

如果我是一個學者，

可以操持一支筆。 

我會寄給我水手一封關於愛的信，

我會告訴他我的悲傷，

我的哀痛和困境。

如果我能找到他，我會用金子給他冠冕。