[Verse]
Ah well, who wouldn't be a sailor lad a sailing on the main,
To gain the goodwill of his captain's good name,
For he came ashore one evening for to be,
And that was the beginning of my own true love and me.

[Chorus]
And it's home, boys, home,
Home I'd like to be, home for a while in me own country,
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree,
Are all a growing green in me own country.

[Verse]
Ah well, I asked her for a candle to light me up to bed,
And likewise for a handkerchief to tie around me head,
She tended to me needs like a young maid ought to do,
Well then I says to her, "Now won't you jump in with me too?"

[Chorus]
And it's home, boys, home,
Home I'd like to be, home for a while in me own country,
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree,
Are all a growing green in me own country.

[Verse]
Ah well, she jumped into bed and making no alarm,
Thinking a young Dublin man could do to her no harm, (Could do to her no harm!)
I hugged her, I kissed her the whole night long,
Until she wished the night had been seven years long.

[Chorus]
And it's home, boys, home,
Home I'd like to be, home for a while in me own country,
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree,
Are all a growing green in me own country.

[Verse]
Well, early next morning the sailor lad arose,
And into Mary's apron threw a handful of gold,
Saying, "Take this, me dear, for the damage that I've done,
For tonight I'd fear I left you with a daughter or a son."

[Chorus]
And it's home, boys, home,
Home I'd like to be, home for a while in me own country,
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree,
Are all a growing green in me own country.

[Verse]
And if it be a girl child, we'd send her off to nurse,
With gold in her pocket and silver in her purse,
And if it be a boy child, he'd wear the jacket blue,
And go climbing up the rigging like his daddy used to do.

[Chorus]
And it's home, boys, home,
Home I'd like to be, home for a while in me own country,
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree,
Are all a growing green in me own country.

[Verse]
So come all of you fair maidens, a warning take be me,
Never let an Irishman an inch above your knee,
For I trusted one and he beguiled me,
He left me with a pair of twins to dangle on me knee.

[Chorus]
And it's home, boys, home,
Home I'd like to be, home for a while in me own country,
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree,
Are all a growing green in me own country.

[Chorus]
And it's home, boys, home, (Home, boys, home.)
Home I'd like to be, home for a while in me own country,
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree,