Cat. #1170 (MFH #508) - As sung by O.B. Campbell, Vinita, Oklahoma on August 9, 1971
VERSE 1
My Johnny's been on th sea
My Johnny's been on shore
My Johnny's been to Ireland
Where he has been before
Your welcome home, dear Johnny
Your welcome home, from sea
Last night my daughter, Polly
Was dreaming of thee
VERSE 2
What luck did you have John
Very bad indeed
I lost my ship an' cargo
Upon th raging sea
Your welcome home, dear Johnny
Your welcome home, from sea
Last night my daughter, Polly
Was dreaming of thee
VERSE 3
Go bring your daughter Polly
An' set 'er down by me
To drown th meancholy
And married we will be
My daughter Polly's absent
An' has been so today
An' if she war at home, John
She would not let you stay
VERSE 4
My daughter Pollys' very rich
N' you are very poor
An' if she was at home, John
She'd turn you out-of-doors
John looked very weary
An' hung down his head
An' called for a candle
To light 'im up to bed
VERSE 5
Th beds are full of strangers
An' have been so this week
An' now poor Johnny
Your lodging you must seek
John looked upon th people
An' looked upon them all
He looked upon th landlady
An' gave a reckoning call
VERSE 6
Twenty shillings of th new
An' thirty of the ole
John then drew out his both hands
Full of gold
With th sight of th money
Made the old lady rue
I hope my daughter Polly
Will soon return to you
VERSE 7
I hope you are joking
I hope you speak unjust
Without any exception
She loves John th best
Down came Miss Polly
With a smiling face
She gave John a sweet kiss
An' then a slight embrace
You're welcome home, dear Johnny
You're welcome home, from sea
Th great beds are empty
An' waiting for thee
VERSE 8
Before I'd be within our beds
I'd be within th street
For when I had no money
My lodging I might seek
But now I have money
I'll make th taverns roar
For a bottle of brandy
An' cider below