Willie Taylor was a brisk young sailor
He who courted a lady fair
Bells were ringing, sailors singing
As to church they did repair
Thirty couples were at their wedding
All were dressed in rich array
But instead of William being married
He was pressed and sent away
She dressed herself in man's apparel
Man's apparel she put on
And she's gone to find her true love William
For to find him she is gone
Then the captain stepped up to her
Asking her "What's brought you here?"
"Oh, I have come to seek my true love
Who I've lately loved so dear."
"Well if you've come to seek your true love,
Tell me what his name may be."
"Oh, his name, it's William Taylor.
From the Irish ranks came he."
"You rise early tomorrow morning,
You rise up at break of day,
There you'll see your true love William
Walking with some lady gay."
So she rose up the very next morning
She rose up at break of day
And there she saw her true love William
Walking with some lady gay
Sword and pistol she then ordered
To be brought at her command
And she shot her true love William Taylor
With his bride on his right hand
Now if all young folks in Kells or Dublin
Were server the same as she served he
Then young girls would all be undone
How very scarce young men would be