John Wesley Harding - Canadee-I-O Lyrics

It's of a fair and handsome girl
She's all in her tender years
She fell in love with a sailor boy
It's true that she loved him well
For to go off to sea with him
Like she did not know how
She longed to see that seaport town
Called Canadee-i-o

So she bargained with a young sailor boy
All for a piece of gold
Straightway he led her
All down into the hold
Saying "I'll dress you up in sailor's clothes
Your jacket shall be blue
You'll see that seaport town
Called Canadee-i-o"

Now when the other sailors heard the news
They fell into a rage
And with all the whole ship's company
They were willing to engage
"We'll tie her hands and feet me boys
Overboard we'll throw her
She'll never see that seaport town
Of Canadee-i-o"

Now when the captain he's heard the news
He said "That ne'er shall be
For if you drown that fair young maid
Then hanged you shall be
She'll stay all in sailor's clothes
Her jacket shall be blue
She'll see that seaport town
Called Canadee-i-o"

Now when they came down to Canada
Scarcely above half a year
She's married this bold captain
And he called her his dear
She's dressed in silks and satins now
And she cuts a gallant show
She's the finest of the ladies
Down in Canadee-i-o

Come all you fair and tender girls
Wheresoever you may be
I'd have you follow your own true love
When he goes out on the sea
For if the sailors prove false to you
Well the captain he might prove true
To see the honour that I have gained
By the wearing of the blue