'Twas on a summer's evening all in the month of May
Down by a flowery garden, where Betsy she did stray
I overheard a fair maid in sorrow to complain
All for her absent lover that ploughs the raging main
I stepped up to this fair maid and put her in surprise
She owned she did not know me, I being all in disguise
Says I, "Me charming creature, my joy and heart's delight
How far have you to travel this dark and stormy night?"
"Away, kind sir, to the Claudy banks if you will please to show
Pity a poor girl distracted for there I have to go
I am in search of a young man and Johnny is his name
And on the banks of Claudy I'm told he does remain."
"And if Johnny he was here tonight he'd keep me from all harm
He's a-cruising the wide ocean in tempest and in storm
He's a-cruising the wide ocean for honour or for gain."
"But I'm told his ship's got wreck-ed all on the coast of Spain."
♪
Now when Betsy heard this dreadful news she fell into despair
With a-wringing of her hands and a-tearing of her hair
"Now Johnny's gone and left me no man on earth I'll take
But in some lonesome valley I'll wander for his sake."
Young Johnny hearing her say so he could no longer stand
He fell into her arms crying, "Betsy, I'm that man
I am your faithful young man and whom you thought was slain
But since we meet on Claudy banks we'll never part again."