There was a wealthy merchant, in London he did dwell He had a beautiful daughter, the truth to you I'll tell Oh, the truth to you I'll tell She had sweethearts aplenty, and men of high degree But none but Jack the sailor, her true love there could be Oh, her true love there could be Jackie's gone a-sailing with trouble on his mind He's left his native country, and his darling girl behind Oh, his darling girl behind She went down to a tailor's shop and dressed in mens' array She climbed on board a vessel to convey herself away Oh, to convey herself away Before you get on board, sir, your name we'd like to know She smiled all in her countenance, "They call me Jack-A-Roe." Oh, they call me Jack-A-Roe I see your waist is slender, your fingers they are small Your cheeks too red and rosy to face the cannonball Oh, to face the cannonball I know my waist is slender, my fingers, they are small But it would not make me tremble to see ten thousand fall Oh, to see ten thousand fall The wars then being over, she went and looked around Among the dead and wounded, her darling boy she found Oh, her darling boy she found She picked him up all in her arms and carried him to the town She sent for a physician who quickly healed his wounds Oh, who quickly healed his wounds This couple, they got married, so well they did agree This couple, they got married, so why don't you and me Oh, so why don't you and me?