Fair Maid Walking is an English traditional song with many variations on the words. These are the ones we used, borrowed from the Canadian trio The Finest Kind.

Thanks to Brent Bolton for telling us about this group.

A fair maid walking all in her garden.

A fair young sailor she chanced to spy.

He stepped up to her, thinking to gain her,

He said "fair maid can you fancy I."

"You seem to be a man of honour,

A man of honour you seem to be.

How can you impose on a poor young woman

Who is not fit your servant to be?"

"Well if you are not fit to be my servant,

I have great regard for thee.

I'll marry you, make you my lady,

And you'll have servants to wait on thee."

"But I have a true love of my own sir,

And seven years he's gone from me,

And seven more I will wait all for him,

For if he's alive, he'll be true to me."

"If for seven years your love has leave you,

I'm sure he's either dead or drowned."

"Well if he's alive, I do love him dearly,

And if he's dead he's in glory crowned."

When he saw that his true love was loyal

A down before her he did fall,

Saying "I am your poor and young single sailor,

Who 7 long years on the ocean sailed"

"Well if you're my poor, young single sailor,

Show me the token I gave to thee,

For seven years have made alteration

Since my true love's been away from me."

He put his hand all in his bosom,

His fingers they be long and small,

Saying "here is the ring that we broke between us"

And when she saw it down she fall.

He took her up all in his arms

And kisses gave her one, two and three,

Saying "I am your poor and young single sailor

Just now returned for to marry thee."