When fair Susan I left

When fair Susan I left, with a heart full of woe, And to sea went, my fortune to mend; Her soft swelling bosom beat hard to and fro, When she lost both her love and her friend: Fare thee well, Tom, she cry'd, and bade me adieu, While the tears rain'd in showers from her eyes; I sail'd full of grief, to join the ship's crew, While loud waves to my sorrow reply'd.

The winds they blew hard, and the sea loud did roar, While blue lightning around us did flash; I thought of my Susan, and wish'd me on shore, Still the waves most tremendous did dash: At length a leak sprung, and all hands call'd on deck, In vain ev'ry art try'd to save; I swam on a plank, and escap'd from the wreck, The rest met a watery grave.

Kind fortune thus having preserved my life, To my Susan I thought I would go, With joy I should meet with my long absent wife; But my hopes were all chang'd into woe. For the news reach'd her ears that the ship it was lost, And Thomas her love was no more, She died like a rose when nipt by the frost, And I live her loss to deplore.