It’s about a rich nobleman's daughter,
Most comely and handsome was she,
Her father possessed a large portion,
Of thirty-five thousand a year.
He had but one only daughter,
Caroline is her name we are told,
One day from her drawing-room window
She admired a young sailor bold.

His cheeks were as red as the roses,
And his skin like the falling snow,
Caroline watched his departure,
Walked 'round and young William she met.
Said she, "I'm a rich nobleman's daughter,
Possessed of ten thousand and more,
I'll forsake my father and mother
And wed with my young sailor bold."

Said he, "My noble lady,
Your parents you’re bound for to mind,
In sailors there is no dependence,
They may leave their true lovers behind.
Be advised, stay at home with your parents,
And do by them as you are told,
Never let anyone tempt you
To wed with a young sailor bold."

Said she, "There’s no one to prevent me
One moment to alter my mind,
I’ll slip and be off with my true love
And he never shall leave me behind."
She dressed herself up like a sailor,
In trousers and jacket of blue,
Three years and a half on the ocean
She sailed in her jacket of blue.

Many times her lover was shipwrecked,
But he always proved constant and true,
Her duty she did like a sailor,
While dressed in her jacket of blue.
Till at last the wind blew in their favour,
They hoisted their flag in full glee.
Until they arrived safe in England,
Caroline and her young sailor bold.

Caroline went straight home to her father
In trousers and jacket of blue.
He received her that moment and fainted
When first she appeared in his view.
She cried out, "Dear father, forgive me,
Deprive me of silver and gold,
But grant me one request on contented
To wed with my young sailor bold."

When her father admired young Willie,
He vowed them in sweet unity.
"If their life should be spared until morning
Together they married would be."
They got married and Caroline's portion
Full thirty-five thousand and more.
And now they are happy and cheerful
Caroline and her young sailor bold.