O Mary, will you go
Across the raging seas ?
And seek a home in a foreign land
And leave the banks of Tees ?
And bid farewell to the shady bowers
Where spent we so many happy hours
And where we gathered the wild flowers,-
In childhood's early day
O Mary, will you go ?
O Mary, will you go ?
Across the sea, along with me ?
O Mary, will you go ?
O stay, dear Willie, stay ! —
Why leave your home and friends ?
And learn to be content with what
Our heavenly Father sends.
And Willie, don't yourself deceive.
And men's fine gilded tales believe
Hardships you'll find, your heart to grieve,
When you are far away.
O stay, dear Willie, stay !
O stay, dear Willie, stay !
Enough you'll find to pain your mind.
When you are far away.
Mary, what is there here
But toil and poverty ?
As for the friends you're speaking of,
What have they done for me ?
Here I may sweat, and dig for lead,
'Mid smoke and dust, to earn my breads
And go half clothed and half fed
Till I can work no more.
O Mary, will you go ?
O Mary, will you go ?
Across the sea, along with me ?
O Mary, will you go ?
Dear Willie, in yonder land,
Small comfort there is found,
The miners dwell in wretched huts.
And sleep on the damp ground.
Besides, dear Willie, bear in mind.
There's rav'nous beasts of every kind
And poisonous serpents there you'll find
Whose bite is instant death.
O stay, dear Willie, stay,
O stay, dear Willie, stay,
O stay, dear Willie, stay,
O stay, dear Willie, stay.
O Mary, calm your fears,
Though rav'nous beasts there are,
Yet rav'nous ones, of human kind.
They are the worst by far.
And, Mary dear, to tell you plain,
All your persuasions are in vain ;
Next week, I mean to cross the main.
So, Mary, will you go ?
Since, then, to emigrate
You seem so much inclined,
I'll just pack up my clothes and go,
I will not stay behind.
And, Willie, I'll be thy wedded wife, —
Though cares and troubles should be rife,
I'll cheer and comfort thee through life.
Dear Willie, I will go.
O Wilie, I will go !
Dear Willie, I will go !
Across the sea, along with thee.
Dear Willie, I will go !
Across the raging seas ?
And seek a home in a foreign land
And leave the banks of Tees ?
And bid farewell to the shady bowers
Where spent we so many happy hours
And where we gathered the wild flowers,-
In childhood's early day
O Mary, will you go ?
O Mary, will you go ?
Across the sea, along with me ?
O Mary, will you go ?
O stay, dear Willie, stay ! —
Why leave your home and friends ?
And learn to be content with what
Our heavenly Father sends.
And Willie, don't yourself deceive.
And men's fine gilded tales believe
Hardships you'll find, your heart to grieve,
When you are far away.
O stay, dear Willie, stay !
O stay, dear Willie, stay !
Enough you'll find to pain your mind.
When you are far away.
Mary, what is there here
But toil and poverty ?
As for the friends you're speaking of,
What have they done for me ?
Here I may sweat, and dig for lead,
'Mid smoke and dust, to earn my breads
And go half clothed and half fed
Till I can work no more.
O Mary, will you go ?
O Mary, will you go ?
Across the sea, along with me ?
O Mary, will you go ?
Dear Willie, in yonder land,
Small comfort there is found,
The miners dwell in wretched huts.
And sleep on the damp ground.
Besides, dear Willie, bear in mind.
There's rav'nous beasts of every kind
And poisonous serpents there you'll find
Whose bite is instant death.
O stay, dear Willie, stay,
O stay, dear Willie, stay,
O stay, dear Willie, stay,
O stay, dear Willie, stay.
O Mary, calm your fears,
Though rav'nous beasts there are,
Yet rav'nous ones, of human kind.
They are the worst by far.
And, Mary dear, to tell you plain,
All your persuasions are in vain ;
Next week, I mean to cross the main.
So, Mary, will you go ?
Since, then, to emigrate
You seem so much inclined,
I'll just pack up my clothes and go,
I will not stay behind.
And, Willie, I'll be thy wedded wife, —
Though cares and troubles should be rife,
I'll cheer and comfort thee through life.
Dear Willie, I will go.
O Wilie, I will go !
Dear Willie, I will go !
Across the sea, along with thee.
Dear Willie, I will go !
×
![]()
Note for non-Italian users: Sorry, though the interface of this website is translated into English, most commentaries and biographies are in Italian and/or in other languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian etc.
