♫ Verse 1: D G A A sailor and his true love sat doon to mak’ their moan D G A When by cam’ ane o’ their ain countrymen G D A Sayin’ Rise up my bonnie lassie, mak’ haste and come awa’ D A G There’s a vessel lyin’ bound for Caledonia ♫ Verse 2: D G A Well, said the sailor Are ye willing for to pay D G A Five hundred guineas before on board ye gae G D A I’ll pay them plack and farthing, before on board I go D A G If you'll tak' me tae my bonnie Caledonia
♫ Verse 3: D G A Well, said the sailor Her money we will tak’ D G A And when we’re on sea, we will throw her over deck G D A Or sell her for a slave, lang or e’er she win awa’ D A G And she’ll never see her bonnie Caledonia ♫ Verse 4: D G A Well, said the captain That’ll never do D G A For there are no slaves sold intil oor country noo G D A They would hang us ane and a’, they would hang us every man D A G If we sold her for a slave in Caledonia ♫ Verse 5: D G A Well, said the sailor She’s lyin’ doon below D G A She’s bound hand and foot ready overboard to throw G D A She’s bound hand and foot ready overboard to throw D A G And she’ll never see her bonnie Caledonia ♫ Verse 6: D G A So the captain away to the fair maid has gane D G A Sayin’ What is the reason that ye lie here so lang G D A And what is the reason that you’re lying here at all D A G For ye’ve paid your passage dear to Caledonia ♫ Verse 7: D G A Oh, says the lassie Oh woe is me D G A That ever I was born sic hardships for to see G D A For the sailor’s got a lassie he likes better far than me D A G And it causes me to weep for Caledonia ♫ Verse 8: D G A So the captain away to the sailor has gane D G A He’s ta’en him by the neck and him overboard has thrown G D A Saying Tak’ this cup o’ water, though the liquor be but sma’ D A G And drink your lassie’s health tae Caledonia ♫ Verse 9: D G A And they’ve sailed east, and they’ve sailed west D G A Until they reached the land that they all loved the best G D A For the waves they did roar and the seas they did beat D A G And they’ve all arrived safe to Caledonia ♫ Verse 10: D G A And they hadnae been there but threequarters o’ a year D G A When fine silks and satins he’s made her for to wear G D A When in fine silks and satins he’s made her for to go D A G Now she’s the captain’s wife in Caledonia D A G Now she’s the captain’s wife in Caledonia