"If my Johnny he was here this night,
He'd keep me from all harm,
but he's cruising the wide ocean,
in tempest and in storm,
He's a-cruising the wild ocean
For honour and for gain."
But I'm told his ship got wrecked,
all on the coast of Spain!

When Betsy heard this dreadful news she fell into dispair,
by the wringing of her hands
And a-tearing of her hair.
Since My Johnny's gone and left me
no man on earth I'll take,
But it's all my life on Claudy Banks, I'll wander for his sake.

Now Johnny hearing her say so,
he could no longer stand
He fell into her arms,
crying "Betsy, I'm your man!
I am that faithful young man,
and whom you thought was slain
And since we've met on Claudy Banks
We'll never part again."