The Ocean's Breach

Once I had a pretty maiden
As sweet as summer's bloom,
She left me when her ship did sail
Across the ocean blue,
Across the ocean blue she went,
So very far from me,
I fear I'll ne'er see her again
Lest I cross the ocean's breach.

For twelve long months I cried
In sorrow of my woes,
When into the harbor did sail
A ship from foreign shores,
From foreign shores the ship had left
To sail the seven seas,
From the land where my true love did dwell
Across the ocean's breach.

I implored upon the captain
Of this fine sailing vessel,
To let me work my passage,
That I may be his vassal,
I may be his vassal in loyal servitude
Until his ship be beached,
In the far off land where my true love waits
Across the ocean's breach.

"Unfurl the sails," the captain cried,
"We must set off for home,
"Make haste my bonny sailors,
"Before the coming storm."
Before the coming storm had gathered,
We set off across the sea,
A salty wind did fill our sails
To cross the ocean's breach.

The storm did come with wind and hail
And waves, big as the ship,
The wind did crack upon the sails
And the timbers, they did creak,
Timbers, they did creak, I say,
To rob a man of sleep,
To dream of my true love awaiting
Across the ocean's breach.

For five long weeks we sailed the seas
Before we sighted land,
A misty shoreline welcoming
To each and every man,
Each and every man rejoiced
Upon the sight of beach,
We anchored she, the ship we'd sailed
Across the ocean's breach.

And all the pretty lassies
Were stood upon the shore,
Waving at their loved ones
To welcome us back home,
Welcome us back home, I say,
For in the crowd was she,
My loving pretty maiden
For whom I'd crossed the ocean's breach.