My Donald he works on the sea On the waves that blow wild and free He splices the ropes and sets the sails While southward he rolls to the home of the whale
He ne'er thinks o' me far behind Or the torments that rage in my mind He's mine for only half part of the year Then I'm left all alone wi' nocht but a tear
Ye ladies wha' smell o' wild rose Think ye for your perfume tae whaur a man goes Think ye o' the wives and the bairnies wha' yearn For a man ne'er returning frae hunting the sperm
My Donald he works on the sea On the waves that blow wild and free He splices the ropes and sets the sails While southward he rolls to the home of the whale