Oh, Father, Father, Build Me a Boat- (WV) 1953 WV Folklore
[Informant's grandmother not known, name of informant missing. From: West Virginia Folklore - Volumes 4-9, page 16, 1953. This is a variant of Oikotype C.
R. Matteson 2017]
Oh, Father, Father, Build Me a Boat, (Learned from grandmother)
1. As I walked down the river bank,
Behold the flowers so bright and gay
I chanced to hear a young maid say,
My true love's gone how can I stay?
2. "Oh, Father, Father, build me a boat,
And on the ocean I will float,
And every ship that I draw near,
I'll inquire for my Willie, dear."
She had not gone more than half her trip,
Till she came in contact with a ship,
Oh, Captain, Captain, tell me true,
Does my sweet Willie sail with you?
"Oh, no, sweet maid, he is not here;
He lies in yonder's deep, I fear;
For as we crossed o'er yon green isle,
We chanced to lose a sailor boy."
5. She wrang her hands, she tore her hair,
Just like a maid in deep despair,
Her boat against a rock she run,
Saying, "I'll have Willie or I'll have none!"
6. "Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Place a marble stone at my head and feet;
And on my heart a turtle dove
To show to the world that I died for love."