just as the tide was flowing - shirley collins lyrics

one morning in the month of may
when all the birds were singing
i saw a lovely lady stray
across the fields at break of day
and softly sang a roundelay
the tide flows in, the tide flows out
twice every day returning

a sailor’s wife at home must bide
she halted, heavily she sighed
“he parted from me, me a bride
just as the tide was a*flowing”
the tide flows in, the tide flows out
twice every day returning