Nic Jones - On Board the Kangaroo lyrics

First I was a waiting man that lived at home at ease, And now I am a mariner that ploughs the angry seas. I thought I'd like seafaring life, so I bid my love adieu, And shipped aboard as steward, my boys, on board the Kangaroo. But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue, Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo. "Cheer up! Cheer up! my own true love, don't weep so bitterly." Well, she sobbed, she sighed, she mourned, she cried, she would not say goodbye. "I won't be gone so very long, maybe a month or two, And when that I return again, fair maid, I'll marry you." But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue, Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo. Now I wasn't gone so very long upon these foreign shores, And many's the fine presents unto my love I bore. I bought tortoises from Tenerife, toys from Timbuktu, And a China rat and a Bengal cat and a Bombay co*katoo. But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue, Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo. So, paid up, I sought her dwelling in the southern part of town Where an ancient dame upon a line was hanging out her gowns. "Where is my love?" - "She's married, sir, about a month ago, To a fine young man that drives a van for Chapman Son & Co." But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue, Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo. So here's health to the dreams of married life, and the soap and the suds and blue. And a heart's true love and patent starch, I'll bid you all adieu. I'll go on to some foreign land, no longer can I stay, And on some Chinese Hottentot I'll throw myself away. But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue, Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo.