1. As I look'd over the castle wall
To see what I could see,
O what should I spy but
   my own father's ship,
Come a-sailing along the sea,
Come a-sailing along the sea.

2. O what is the matter, my daughter Jane,
That you do look so wan?
I fear you have had some ill sickness
Or been courting with some young man,
Or been courting with some young man.

3. O no!  I've not had an ill sickness,
Nor been courting with any young man
But I have been sick and sick to my heart
Since you've been so long at sea,
Since you've been so long at sea.

4. O is it any noble, noble knight,
Or any gentleman?
Or is it, by chance, that rakish lad
That has just return'd from Spain,
That has just return'd from Spain?

5. O no!  It is not a noble, noble knight,
Nor any gentleman,
But I have been wooed by young William
Who is one of your serving men,
Who is one of your serving men.

6. If you will marry my daughter Jane
And take her by the hand,
This day you shall sup and dine with me
And be heir to all my land,
And be heir to all my land.

7. O I will marry your daughter Jane
And take her by the hand,
And today I will sup and dine with you;
But a fig for all your land,
But a fig for all your land.

8.  For I have houses and I have land,
And money at my command,
And had it not been
   for your daughter Jane,
I was never your serving man,
I was never your serving man.