First I was a waiting man who lived at home at ease,
And now I am a mariner that ploughs the angry seas,
I thought I'd like sea-faring life, so I bid my love adieu
And shipped aboard as Steward, me boys, on board the Kangaroo,

But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue,
Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo.

Cheer up, cheer up, my own true love, don't weep so bitterly.
Well, she sobbed, she sighed, she mourned, she cried, she would not say goodbye.
Oh I won't be gone so very long, about a month or two
And when that I return again, fair love, I'll marry you.

But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue,
Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo.

Now I wasn't gone so very long upon these foreign shores
And many's the fine presents unto my love I bore.
I bought tortoises from Tennerife, ties from Timbuktoo
And a china rat and a Bengal cat and a Bombay cockatoo.

But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue,
Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo.

So, paid up, I sought a dwelling in the southern part of town,
Where an ancient dame, upon the line, was hanging out her gowns.
"Where is my love?" "She's married", sir, "About a month ago,
To a fine young man who drives a van for Chapman Son and Co"

But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue,
Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo.

So he's health to the dreams of married life, and the soap and suds and blue
And a heart's true love, and patent starch, I'll bid you all adieu
I'll go on to some foreign land, no longer can I stay
And on some Chinese Hottentot I'll throw myself away.

But I never thought she would prove false, or even prove untrue,
Till we sailed away from Milford Bay on board the Kangaroo.

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Traditional
sung by Nic Jones on "In Search of Nic Jones"