a stranger to this country
from America I came.
No one here that knows me,
can tell my name.
I landed in this country
to wander for a while.
Far from my Bonnie darling,
I'm only a weary mile.
I travel this country both
early and late.
My trials have been many
and my hardships have been
I courted a bonnie lass,
but she jilted me right plain
Oft times she has denied me,
but I'll try her again
Some say I'm rakish,
some say that I am wild
Some say I am guilty,
the last is to be guile
But I'll prove them lyin' folk
if you come along with me
And be my lovely darlin'
on the plains of Ameri -Key
Give my compliments to Nancy,
who lives on Yonder Hill
Likewise unto Betsy,
she's a lass I'd like for a whirl
I would give my love to Maggie,
she's my heart's delight
I could roll her in my arms
for a year long into the night
Oh, the ship that's on the salt,
salt sea may sail without a sail
The little wee, wee fishes grow
until they turn into muckle whales
In the middle of the ocean
they may grow their own tree
Before that I prove false to her
that's given her love to me
So send me word, my darling,
and westward I will sail
On a packet out of leaf, my dear,
with a swift and a pleasant gale
And when that I am landed,
you'll collide your troughs with me,
and we'll sing and dance together
on the plains of America.