-HO, Sailor of the sea!
How-s my boy-my boy?�
-What-s your boy-s name, good wife,
And in what good ship sail'd he?�
-My boy John- He that went to sea-
What care I for the ship, sailor?
My boy's my boy to me.
-You come back from sea,
And not know my John?
I might as well have ask-d some landsman
Yonder down in the town.
There -s not an ass in all the parish
But he knows my John.

-How-s my boy-my boy?
And unless you let me know
I-ll swear you are no sailor,
Blue jacket or no,
Brass buttons or no, sailor,
Anchor and crown or no!
Sure his ship was the -Jolly Briton-�-
-Speak low, woman, speak low!�
-And why should I speak low, sailor,
About my own boy John?
If I was loud as I am proud
I-d sing him over the town!
Why should I speak low, sailor?�
-That good ship went down.�

-How-s my boy-my boy?
What care I for the ship, sailor?
I was never aboard her.
Be she afloat or be she aground,
Sinking or swimming, I-ll be bound,
Her owners can afford her!
I say, how-s my John?�
-Every man on board went down,
Every man aboard her.�
-How-s my boy-my boy?
What care I for the men, sailor?
I-m not their mother-
How-s my boy-my boy?
Tell me of him and no other!
How -s my boy-my boy?�