Lyrics:

It's of a fair and handsome girl, she's all in her tender years:
She fell in love with a sailor boy, it's true that she loved him well,
For to go off to sea with him like she did not know how,
She longed to see that seaport town called Canadee-I-O.

So she bargained with a young sailor boy, it's all for a piece of gold.
Straightway then he led her all down into the hold,
Saying, 'I'll dress you up in sailor's clothes, your jacket shall be blue,'
You'll see that seaport town called Canadee-I-O.

Now when the other sailors heard the news, well they fell into a rage
And with all the whole ship's company they were willing to engage,
Saying, 'We'll tie her hands and feet me boys, overboard we'll throw her.
She'll never see that seaport town called Canadee-I-O.'

Now when the captain he's heard the news, well he too fell in a rage
And with all of his whole ship's company he was willing to engage,
Saying, 'She'll stay all in sailor's clothes, her collar shall be blue.
She'll see that seaport town called Canadee-I-O.'

Now when they came down to Canada, scarcely 'bout half a year
She's married this bold captain who called her his dear.
She's dressed in silks and satins now, and she cuts a gallant show,
She's the finest of the ladies down Canadee-I-O.

Come you fair and tender girls wheresoever you may be,
I'll have you to follow your own true love, when he goes out on the sea.
For if the sailors prove false to you, well the captain he might prove true,
You see the honour that I have gained by the wearing of the blue.


It's of a gallant lady, just in the prime of youth.
She dearly loved a sailor; in fact, she loved to wed,
And how to get to sea with him the way she did not know,
All for to see this pretty place called Canadee-I-O.

She bargained with a sailor all for a purse of gold,
And straightway he had taken her right down into the hold,
I'll dress you up in sailor suit; your colors shall be blue
And you soon will see that pretty place, called Canadee-I-O,

When our mate had heard this, he fell into a rage,
Likewise our ship's company was willing to engage:
I'll tie your hands and feet, my love, and overboard you'll go,
And you'll never see the pretty place called Canadee-I-O.

And when the captain heard this: This thing shall never be,
For if you drown that fair maid, hanged sure you'll be;
I'll take her to my cabin, her colors shall be blue,
And she soon will see that pretty place called Canadee-I-O.

They had not arrived in Canada more than the space of half a year,
Before the Captain married her, and called her his very dear.
She can dress in silk or satin; she caught a gallant show;
She was one of the fairest ladies in Canadee-I-O.

Come all ye, young ladies, whoever you may be,
To be sure and follow your true love, if ever he goes to sea,
And if your mate, he do prove false, you're captain he'll prove true,
And you'll see the honor I have gained by wearing of the blue