Lyrics & Arrangement by Andrew Blackwood MacBaine the Purple
Melody: Trad(?)
© Drew Nicholson, 1998
Softly sings the maiden, lay me down, oh lay me down,
Softly sings the maiden, lay be down, beneath the sea.
He was all I wanted, lay me down, oh lay me down,
His love held me to the earth, nevermore, give me the sea
For he was my one, true love, oh
My one true love, and
Now I go to be with my one true love, there in the sea…
Softly did he kiss me, lay me down, oh lay me down,
Softly did he kiss me then, before he went to sea.
Gently did he touch me, lay me down, oh lay me down,
Touch of fire did burn me sweet on the day he went to sea.
For he was my one true love, oh
My one true love, but
He did not return from there, my true love, there on the sea.
Softly spoke the captain, lay me down, oh lay me down,
Softly spoke the captain, lay me down, how he left me.
Storms had lashed the rigging, lay me down, oh lay me down,
My love fell from sails’ top, with the wind, into the sea.
For he was my one true love, oh
My one true love, and
Though they searched they could not find him, my true love, in the sea.
Softly sings the maiden, lay me down, oh lay me down,
Softly sings the maiden, lay me down, beneath the sea.
He was all I wanted, lay me down, oh lay me down,
His love held me to the earth, nevermore, give me the sea
For he was my one, true love, oh
My one true love, and
Now I go to be with my one true love
There in the sea…