On St. Patrick's Day, the seventeenth
From New York we set sail
Kind fortune did favour us
Wi' a sweet and a pleasant gale
We bore away from Americay
The wind bein' off the land
And wi' courage brave we ploughed the wave
Bound down for Newfoundland

Our Captain's name was Nelson
Just twenty years of age
As true and brave a sailor lad
As ever ploughed the wave
The Eveline our brig was called
Belonging to McLean
And wi' courage brave we ploughed the wave
Bound down for Newfoundland

When three days out to our surprise
Our Captain he fell sick
He shortly was not able
To take his turn on deck
The fever raged which made us think
That death was near at hand
So we bore away from Halifax
Bound down for Newfoundland

At three o'clock we sighted a light
That we were glad to see
The small-pox bein' ragin'
That's what it proved to be
At four o'clock in the afternoon
As sure as God's command
He passed away in Arichat
Bound down for Newfoundland

All that night long we did lament
For our departed friend
And we were prayin' unto God
For what had been his end
We prayed that God would guide us
And keep us by his hand
And send us fair wind while at sea
Bound down for Newfoundland