De Me Ama
Ewan MacColl and A.L. Lloyd Lyrics

As a sailor was walking one fine summer day
A sailor was casually walking around on a pleasant summer day.

The squire and a lady were making their way
The squire and the lady were walking along.

And Jack he heard the squire say
Jack overheard the squire speak.

Tonight with you love I mean to lay
The squire was planning to spend the night with the lady.

With me Do me ama dingy ama do me ama day
He repeated this phrase with a kind of playful tune.

You must tie a string all around your finger
He instructed the lady to tie a string around her finger.

with the other end of the string hanging out the window
The other end of the string should hang out of the window.

And I'll step by and I'll pull the string
The squire would come by and pull the string.

and you must come down love and let me in
This would signal the lady to come down and let the squire in.

Says Jack to hisself I've a mind to try
Jack thought he would give it a try.

To see if a poor sailor he can't win that prize
He wanted to see if he, a humble sailor, could win the lady's affections.

So he slipped by and he pulled the string
He snuck by and pulled the string.

And the lady come down and she let old Jack in
The lady came down and allowed Jack to enter.

with a do me ama etc...
He repeated the same phrase as the squire had earlier.

When the squire come by he was humming his song
Later, the squire came by humming a tune.

Thinking to himself how it wouldn't be long
He believed he would be with the lady soon.

But when he got there no string he found
When he arrived, he realized the string was gone.

And behold his hopes all dashed to the ground
His hopes were crushed.

With a do...etc..
He again repeated the phrase.

Early next morning it was just getting light
The next morning, as it was becoming light outside.

The lady jumped up in bed in a terrible fright
The lady woke up in panic in her bed.

But there laid Jack in his stripey shirt
To her surprise, Jack was lying in bed next to her.

His hands all covered with tar and dirt
His hands were dirty from his work as a sailor.

with a do...etc
He went on singing the same phrase as before.

Oh what do you want you tarry sailor
The lady addressed Jack, asking what he was doing there.

Breaking in a ladies bedroom to steal her treasure
She accused him of breaking in and stealing from her room.

Oh no said old Jack I just pulled the string
Jack calmly explained that he had just followed the instructions given to him earlier.

and you did come down ma'am and let me in
He reminded her that she had willingly allowed him to enter.

With a do me ama etc..
He sang the same phrase once more.

Says Jack to the lady oh forgive me I pray
Jack apologized and begged for forgiveness.

I'll steal away very quiet at the dawn of the day
He promised to leave quietly at dawn.

Oh no says the lady don't stray too far
The lady urged Jack not to go too far away.

For I would never part from my jolly Jack tar
She declared her love for Jack and said she would never want to be without him.

With a do me ama etc..
The song ended with the same phrase as before.