A Most Choice Collection of Popular Songs/Black-ey'd Susan
Black-ey'd Susan.
All in the Downs the fleet was moor'd,
The streamers waving in the wind,
When blaek-ey'd Susan came on board;
Oh! where shall I my true love find?
Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true,
Does my sweet William sail among your erew?
William, who high upon the yard,
Roek'd with the billows to and fro,
Soon as her well-known voiee he heard,
He sigh'd, and east his eyes below:
The eord glides swiftly thro' his glowing hands,
And quick as lightning on the deek he stands.
So the sweet lark, high pois'd in air,
Shuts elose his pinions to his breast,
If ehanee his mate's shrill eall he hear,
And drops at onee into her nest:
The noblest eaptain in the British fleet
Might envy William's lips those kisses sweet.
O Susan, Susan, lovely dear,
My vows shall ever true remain;
Let me kiss off that falling tear,
We only part to meet again:
Change as ye list, ye winds, my heart shall be
The faithful eompass, that still points to thee.
Believe not what the landsmen say,
Who tempt with doubts thy eonstant mind;
They'll tell thee, sailors, when away,
In every port a mistress find!
Yes, yes, believe them, when they tell thee so
For thou art present wheresoe'er I go.
If to far India's coast we sail,
Thy eyes are seen in diamonds bright,
Thy breath is Afric's spicy gale,
Thy skin is ivory so white;
Thus ev'ry beauteous objeet that I view,
Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue.
Tho' battle calls me from thy arms,
Let not my pretty Susan mourn;
Tho' cannons roar, yet, safe from harm,
William shall to his dear return:
Love turns aside the balls that round me fly,
Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye.
The boatswain gave the dreadful word,
The sails their swelling bosoms spread,
No longer must she stay on board,
They kiss'd-she sigh'd-he hung his head;
Her less'ning boat, unwilling, rows to land,
Adieu, she cry'd, and way'd her lily hand.