We praised and cheered the sailors
As they lined up on the quay
I waved at lovely Willie
And he waved back at me
And all the handsome sailors
They stood so fair and tall
But William, sweet William
Was the fairest of the all
William, sweet William
Was the fairest of them all
Marching up the gangplank
They proudly did embark
Their colours made me head spin
And my heart sang like a lark
Of all the fine young sailor lads
That answered Winter’s call
William, sweet William
Was the bravest of them all
William, sweet William
Was the bravest of them all
They set out for Texel
To join up with Wolf Tone
Fourteen thousand seamen
To free his island home
Rolling out their cannons
To prepare to meet the foe
William, sweet William
To battle he did go
William, sweet William
To battle he did go
Bad fortune and foul weather
Their efforts did frustrate
They’d hoisted up their anchors
And set to sea too late
Quartered on the Delft
Defending Winter’s rear
William, sweet William
Knew no doubt or fear
William, sweet William
He knew no doubt or fear
Duncan sailed from Yarmouth
To chase our navy down
They lined up for the battle
And met at Camperdown
As officers drew cutlasses
And shook their captain’s hand
William sweet William
Bravely made a stand
William, sweet William
Bravely made a stand
First they hit our vanguard
Firing hard and fast
Then they broke our battle line
And we lost sails and mast
Many an able seaman
In the battle he did fall
And William he was taken
By an English cannon ball
William he was taken
By an English cannon ball
I sometimes watch the sailors
Line up on the quay
And think of lovely William
And him walking next to me
And I think of all the brave young men
Who were shot or drowned
When William, sweet William
Was lost at Camperdown
William, sweet William
Was lost at Camperdown